Williamsport Man Sentenced To Over Five Years’ Imprisonment For Gun And Drug Offenses

Scranton - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann sentenced Damontray Taylor, age 31, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to 70 months’ imprisonment for heroin trafficking and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Taylor pleaded guilty on June 6, 2017, to possessing 32 retail bags of heroin in February 2016, with the intent to distribute the drugs in the Williamsport area, as well as three firearms in furtherance of his drug activities.  Judge Brann sentenced Taylor to 10 months in prison for the drug trafficking charge, and imposed a statutory, mandatory minimum five-year term of imprisonment for the firearms charge.  Judge Brann further imposed a $400 fine and three years of supervised release after Taylor’s prison term is complete. 

Taylor entered his guilty plea under a plea agreement with the United States.  Under the agreement, the government dismissed a third count charging possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The investigation was conducted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

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