Heroin Killed a York Man: Lattimore Gets 29 Years

HARRISBURG, PA – Dameon Lattimore, 40, of New York, will spend the next 29 years behind bars after being sentenced today for supplying the heroin and crack cocaine that claimed the life of a man in York City. U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, handed down the lengthy sentence, a stark warning in a region battling a relentless opioid crisis.

The case, brought by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, began with a December 2015 grand jury indictment charging Lattimore alongside Yushonda Durant, 41, also of New York, and Frederick Gladfelter, 47, of York. Prosecutors detailed how the trio operated a drug distribution network that funneled deadly narcotics into the streets of York.

While Lattimore received the harshest penalty, his co-defendants haven’t all faced justice. Gladfelter pleaded guilty in December 2016 to allowing his residence to serve as a base of operations for the heroin and crack cocaine trade. He’s currently awaiting his own sentencing date. Durant, however, remains at large, a fugitive from justice, and is actively being sought by authorities.

The investigation was a coordinated effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the York City Police Department, and the York County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William A. Behe skillfully prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Lattimore and his associates. Evidence presented at trial demonstrated a clear link between the heroin Lattimore supplied and the fatal overdose that took the life of the York City victim.

This prosecution is part of a broader, district-wide initiative spearheaded by the United States Attorney’s Office to aggressively combat the ongoing heroin epidemic. The “heroin initiative” specifically targets traffickers operating within the Middle District of Pennsylvania, fostering collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement to dismantle these dangerous organizations and stem the flow of deadly drugs.

The sentence served to Lattimore underscores the severe consequences awaiting those who profit from the misery and death caused by heroin and other illicit drugs. It’s a grim reminder of the human cost of the opioid crisis and the relentless work of law enforcement to hold traffickers accountable. The search for Durant continues, and authorities urge anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to come forward.

RELATED: Rochester Narc Dealer Damion Colabatistto Given Life Sentence For Murder

RELATED: Terry Glenn Williams Indicted in Heroin Death, Drug Ring