SCRANTON, PA – In a fierce crackdown on the fentanyl trade, federal agents have indicted five alleged kingpins for trafficking over 400 grams of this deadly substance, alongside additional quantities of heroin, in Luzerne County. The suspects, Eric Hill (31), Candacelee Ellis (34), Thomas Evanchik (40), Casey VanGorder (25), and Casey Read (37), all from the region, were charged following a federal grand jury’s indictment on August 11, 2020.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, these defendants are accused of conspiring to distribute deadly doses of fentanyl and heroin since January 2017. The grim allegations underscore the gravity of the situation in Luzerne County, which has been grappling with a drug epidemic that has taken countless lives.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Kingston Police Department, Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is leading the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime by uniting all levels of law enforcement. The Department of Justice relaunched PSN in 2017, focusing on targeting violent criminals and developing strategies to combat crime locally.
In addition to the PSN initiative, this case is part of the Heroin Initiative, which targets heroin traffickers operating within the Middle District of Pennsylvania. It’s a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to apprehend those responsible for heroin-related offenses.
It’s crucial to note that all individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Sentences following conviction can range from ten years to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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