SCRANTON, PA – A Luzerne County-based drug and gun ring is facing federal charges after a sweeping indictment handed down earlier this week. Jamie Smicherko, 27, of Avoca, Pennsylvania, Patrick Russin, 54, of Shavertown, Pennsylvania, Ryan Medar, 36, of Jenkin Township, Pennsylvania, and Carlos Laurel, 45, of White Haven, Pennsylvania, are all accused of participating in a conspiracy to flood the region with methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to the indictment, between October 2023 and April 2024, Smicherko, Russin, and Medar allegedly conspired to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine within Luzerne County. The charges don’t stop there. All four – Smicherko, Russin, Medar, and Laurel – are also accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine. Prosecutors allege the operation was significant, with quantities of methamphetamine changing hands throughout the region.
The feds aren’t just focusing on the drugs. The indictment details accusations that Medar and Smicherko actively trafficked firearms and illegally possessed them while furthering their drug crimes. They are also charged with conspiracy to do the same. This adds a particularly dangerous layer to the case, raising concerns about the potential for increased violence linked to the operation.
The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), wasn’t a solo effort. Local law enforcement – the Kingston, Plains Township, Wilkes-Barre, and Pittston Police Departments – alongside the Luzerne and Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Offices, all played a role in building the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is leading the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, passed by Congress in 2022, which specifically targets illegal gun trafficking and straw purchases. It’s also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bolstering cooperation between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in 2021, focusing on trust-building, community support, and strategic enforcement.
If convicted on the federal charges, each defendant faces the possibility of life in prison, followed by a term of supervised release, and hefty fines. It’s important to remember that an indictment is not a conviction. Smicherko, Russin, Medar, and Laurel are all presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The sentencing, should guilt be established, will be determined by a judge after considering federal sentencing guidelines.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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