Charles Jones, Heroin Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2020

A Centre County man has been sentenced for his role in a heroin trafficking conspiracy in western Pennsylvania. Charles Jones, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

According to federal authorities, Jones and his co-conspirators conspired to distribute quantities of heroin from November 2017 through June 2018. The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, revealed the scope of the operation and led to Jones' indictment.

The wiretap investigation was conducted primarily targeting the GBK street gang and drug trafficking in and around the Greenway Projects in Pittsburgh's West End. Jones' guilty plea marked a significant milestone in the prosecution of the case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Sulia Goodman and Yvonne M. Saadi are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF).

Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for February 19, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant's detention. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration jointly led the multi-agency investigation, which also included the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Robinson Township Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, Wilkinsburg Borough Police Department, and the McKees Rocks Police Department.

The case is a prime example of the collaborative efforts of federal and state agencies to combat major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises. Jones' guilty plea serves as a reminder of the consequences of heroin trafficking and the importance of continued efforts to disrupt and dismantle these operations.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/centre-county-man-pleads-guilty-heroin-trafficking-conspiracy