SCRANTON – A deadly heroin and fentanyl trafficking scheme that ended in a 32-year-old woman’s overdose death has landed two men in prison.
Demetrius Taylor, 30, of Patterson, New Jersey, and Joseph Decker, 28, of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion on [no date specified] for heroin/fentanyl trafficking offenses resulting in death.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, both Decker and Taylor previously pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, resulting in death. On February 21, 2020, Taylor distributed heroin and fentanyl to Decker, who subsequently distributed the heroin and fentanyl to an individual who, in turn, shared it with a 32-year-old woman. The woman overdosed and died on February 26, 2020 after ingesting the drugs.
Taylor received a sentence of 240 months in prison, while Decker was sentenced to 180 months in prison.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Scranton, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a district-wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin-related offenses.
This case is also 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.
Defendant/Respondent: Demetrius Taylor
Criminal Charges: Distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, resulting in death
City and State: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Date: [no date specified]
Sentence: 240 months in prison
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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