SCRANTON, PA – In a shocking turn of events, four men from New York have been charged with drug trafficking offenses in northeastern Pennsylvania.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Adolphus Butts, 35, Timothy Smart, 31, Ladu Tariq Kitching, 28, and Cedrick Johnson, 27, all of New York, New York, have been indicted on nine counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine hydrochloride, cocaine base (crack), and heroin in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties between 2011 and 2013.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police into the sale of illegal drugs at motels in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties. The investigation revealed a sophisticated network of drug dealers who were smuggling large quantities of cocaine and heroin into the area.
Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus has been assigned to prosecute the case. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine hydrochloride, cocaine base (crack), and heroin in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties between 2011 and 2013. The maximum penalty under the federal drug trafficking conspiracy statute charged in this case is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
The indictment also warns that the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant. The judge will consider a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances, 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.
The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. The case is being heard in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Related Federal Cases
- Sagar Steven Singh, New York Drug Trafficking, NY 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Jevon Henry, Coke Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2024 · New York
- Jahkel Lamar, Cocaine Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2023 · New York
- James Johnson, Crack Cocaine Trafficking, New York 2022 · Maine
- Jose Baez Cabrera, Crack Cocaine Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2023 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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