Wilkes-Barre Meth Lab Kingpin Laury Convicted

SCRANTON, PA – Michael Laury, 41, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, is facing decades behind bars after a jury found him guilty of operating a methamphetamine laboratory and obstructing a federal investigation. The verdict, delivered after roughly three hours of deliberation, caps a six-day trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion.

United States Attorney David J. Freed announced the conviction, detailing how the evidence presented painted a clear picture of Laury’s central role in a dangerous operation. Prosecutors successfully argued that Laury didn’t just allow the lab to exist in his basement – he actively assisted two drug dealers in running it throughout May and June of 2017. The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police raided the Wilkes-Barre residence in June 2017, effectively shutting down the illicit operation.

But the lies didn’t stop there. Following the raid, Laury compounded his crimes by providing false statements to FBI agents regarding his knowledge of, and involvement with, the methamphetamine lab. He attempted to distance himself from the operation, a tactic the jury clearly didn’t buy. Laury has been held in custody since his arrest in October 2017, awaiting the outcome of this trial.

Laury wasn’t working alone. Authorities have already secured guilty pleas from three coconspirators. Mark Heath, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Shawn Melleski, also of Wilkes-Barre, received a 46-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release for his role in the conspiracy. Amy Casey, another Wilkes-Barre resident, pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug premises and also awaits sentencing. The investigation suggests a widespread network of individuals involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamine in the region.

The case was a joint effort, spearheaded by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, and Wilkes-Barre Police Department, with Assistant United States Attorneys Phillip J. Caraballo and Jeffrey St John handling the prosecution. This prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement.

Laury now faces a potential sentence of up to 45 years in federal prison, along with a period of supervised release and substantial fines. However, Judge Mannion will consider a range of factors outlined in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines – including the severity of the offense, Laury’s criminal history, and the need for both punishment and rehabilitation – before determining the final sentence. The statutory maximum is simply that – a maximum – and the actual sentence could vary significantly. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who manufacture and distribute dangerous drugs, and then lie to law enforcement, will be held accountable.

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