Michael Jackson, 27, a federal inmate locked up at the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, Pennsylvania, has been indicted on charges of attempting to smuggle Suboxone into the prison, federal prosecutors announced today in Johnstown.
The indictment alleges Jackson tried to obtain a quantity of Suboxone — a controlled substance used to treat opioid addiction — on October 12, 2016. The charge, attempt to obtain contraband in prison, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine, or both.
Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song confirmed the indictment returned by a federal grand jury. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines, who emphasized that even behind bars, attempts to traffic drugs are met with full federal force.
The investigation was led by the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in tandem with the Special Investigative Staff at the Federal Correctional Institution. Their work uncovered Jackson’s alleged attempt to acquire the prescription narcotic inside the secure compound.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, any eventual sentence would depend on the severity of the offense and Jackson’s prior criminal record. The law allows for stiff penalties to deter drug trafficking within federal detention facilities.
An indictment is not a conviction. Michael Jackson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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