SCRANTON, PA – Christopher Essameddin Birry, 43, of Hanover Township, Luzerne County, was dealt a severe blow by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley when she sentenced him to 15 years behind bars on drug trafficking and firearms charges. Birry’s sentence came into effect on July 9, 2025.
Birry, whose reign of terror spanned from May 31, 2023, until July 27, 2023, was caught distributing methamphetamine in the Wilkes-Barre area. His brazen activities were brought to a halt when he attempted to flee law enforcement during a traffic stop on September 11, 2023, in Olyphant, Lackawanna County.
But Birry’s escape attempt was short-lived as he was apprehended and found to be carrying distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. To add insult to injury, a loaded handgun was also discovered at his disposal, a clear violation of his prior felony drug trafficking convictions that had stripped him of the right to possess firearms.
At the time of this heinous offense, Birry was still on probation for a previous drug trafficking conviction, a fact that only served to compound his criminality. This case is a testament to the relentless efforts of Operation Take Back America, which mobilizes the Department of Justice’s full force against illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and violent crime.
Operation Take Back America coordinates resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), ensuring that Birry’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who peddle drugs and weaponry on our streets. The investigation into Birry was a collaborative effort led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Olyphant Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Patrick Bannon prosecuted the case with unwavering determination, ensuring justice was served for the community Birry had terrorized. # # #
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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