Dario George, Fentanyl Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2023

SCRANTON – In a shocking revelation, Luzerne County man Dario George, 32, of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, George admitted to distributing between 280 grams and 400 grams of fentanyl in the Luzerne County area in 2021 and 2022. The charge stems from an investigation in which investigators made four purchases of fentanyl from George and then, on May 19, 2022, obtained a search warrant for George’s residence in Nanticoke.

A search of that residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 30,000 individual bags of fentanyl and additional amounts of heroin and cocaine, $8,098 in U.S. currency, and drug packaging materials. The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Under federal law, George faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of forty years in prison, a term of supervised release and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The investigation and subsequent plea deal are a significant blow to the fentanyl trafficking ring operating in the Luzerne County area. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat the opioid crisis and reduce the flow of illicit substances into our communities.

George’s guilty plea serves as a reminder that those involved in fentanyl trafficking will be held accountable for their actions. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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