SCRANTON, PA – In a shocking turn of events, Brandon Vitack, a 26-year-old man from Monroe Township, Pennsylvania, has been charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Vitack is charged with knowingly and intentionally opening and maintaining his residence from approximately October 1, 2017 to December 13, 2017, for the purpose of manufacturing, packaging, distributing, and using controlled substances, specifically, fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Scranton, and the Kingston Police Department. United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski 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.
This case also 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.
The maximum penalty under the federal statute for maintaining drug-involved premises is 20 years’ imprisonment and a $500,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature 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. The case is ongoing, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Defendant: Brandon Vitack
Criminal Charges: Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises (18 U.S.C. § 856)
City and State: Scranton, PA
Exact Date: November 21, 2018
Sentence or Outcome: Ongoing
Dollar Amounts: $500,000 fine
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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