SCRANTON – The grim halls of justice in Pennsylvania have witnessed a harsh verdict for Hector Alvarez. The 37-year-old Hazleton native was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion. His sentence, handed down for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, sends a stark message against the city’s drug trade.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus detailed the grim circumstances of Alvarez’s arrest. On February 3, 2022, law enforcement conducted a stakeout in Hazle Township. Alvarez was spotted leaving a residence with a grocery bag, which he discarded into a garbage can from his car. The contents? Empty vacuum-sealed bags indicative of kilogram quantities of methamphetamine.
But the trail did not end there. As officers attempted to pull Alvarez over, he led them on a high-speed chase, culminating in a foot pursuit at his McKinley Street residence. Amidst the chaos, police recovered a box containing 600 glassine packets of fentanyl, while additional packets were found in his vehicle.
The search of the Hazle Township residence yielded even more concerning findings: 26 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, 90 grams of fentanyl, and 37 grams of cocaine base (crack). The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and Hazleton City Police Department had their hands full with this drug empire.
Alvarez’s case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. It also aligns with the Heroin Initiative, targeting heroin traffickers in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. This coordinated effort by federal, state, and local agencies underscores the determination to bring drug traffickers to justice.
This is not just a sentence for one man; it’s a victory against the illegal drug trade that plagues our communities. As we reflect on this case, let it serve as a reminder that the fight against crime continues, and the sentences handed down are a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice.
RELATED: Hazleton Meth Kingpin Gets 20 Years
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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