Leader Of Lawrence County Drug Ring Sentenced

PITTSBURGH - Two residents of New Castle, Pa., were sentenced in federal court today. Christopher Klingensmith was sentenced to 17 and ½ years incarceration and James Cracraft was sentenced to 37 months incarceration, to be followed by 3 years supervised release, on their convictions of violating the narcotics laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentences on Christopher Klingensmith, 39, and James Cracraft, 39.

According to information presented to the court, between September 2008 and June 2011, a drug ring operated in the New Castle area, selling highly-addictive narcotic pills containing oxycodone on the street to drug users. Larry Dorsey, a former New Castle resident who was living in Florida during the conspiracy, was the supplier for Klingensmith and Cracraft and others charged in this indictment. Klingensmith was the leader of the drug organization in New Castle, and Cracraft was a distributor. Eleven individuals were charged in the drug conspiracy, and all have pleaded guilty. Four of the co-conspirators were relatives of Christopher Klingensmith, including his father, a brother, and a sister.

Nearly 50,000 oxycodone pills were sold during the conspiracy. The evidence showed that the oxycodone purchased for $9 a pill in Florida was being resold in New Castle for up to $25 a pill.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory J. Nescott prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Castle Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Christopher Klingensmith and James Cracraft.