York Man Guilty Of Allowing His Home To Be Used As Drug Distribution Site

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Frederick Gladfelter, age 46, of York, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, to allowing his home to be used as a site for the distribution of heroin and crack cocaine.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, in January 2015, a York City man died after buying and using heroin sold at Gladfelter’s residence.

Co-defendant Dameon Lattimore of New York pled guilty before Judge Jones in May 2016 to a charge of distributing heroin that resulted in death.  Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Co-defendant Yushonda Durant, also of New York, remains a fugitive. 

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the York City Police Department and the York County District Attorney’s Office.  Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney William A. Behe.

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.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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