Franklin Tejeda, Pill Distribution Conspiracy, Pennsylvania 2016

A Hazleton man has admitted to orchestrating a pill distribution conspiracy in the region, federal authorities announced.

Franklin Tejeda, 35, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Scranton to conspiring with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, Tramadol, Diazepam, and other Schedule II and IV drugs.

The illegal conduct occurred between November 2014 and March 2016. Tejeda regularly delivered parcels of Schedule II and IV pills to co-conspirators’ residences in Hazleton, and distributed the drugs to customers. The pills were obtained from suppliers in India.

Tejeda was charged in a criminal information filed by the United States Attorney’s Office in April 2016. The charge stemmed from an investigation by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Inspectors, and Hazleton Police.

Tejeda faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Judge Mannion ordered a presentence investigation to be completed and will schedule sentencing after the pre-sentence investigation is completed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law is 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, 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. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

The case is part of the Middle District of Pennsylvania’s efforts to combat pill trafficking and its devastating impact on communities. The public is urged to report any information regarding suspicious activity to the authorities.

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