York Man Indicted For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Fernandino Rodriguez-Colon, age 39, of York, Pennsylvania, was indicted on June 13, 2018, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the six count indictment alleges that Rodriguez-Colon distributed and possessed with intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana on separate occasions in January and February 2018 in York, Pennsylvania.  The indictment also alleges Rodriguez-Colon, a prohibited person, possessed a stolen Remington .45 caliber pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.  The indictment also gives notice of the Government’s intent to forfeit all assets connected with the drug trafficking crimes.

This case was investigated by the York County Drug Task Force with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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 each of the drug trafficking offenses is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  The maximum penalty for possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking is life 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.

# # #