Jeffrey Abney, Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2019

SCRANTON, PA - In a major blow to the opioid epidemic, Luzerne County resident Jeffrey Abney, 29, of Sugar Notch, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and three years on supervised release for distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Abney previously pleaded guilty and admitted to distributing heroin and fentanyl in the Luzerne County area. In July 2018, investigators made a number of purchases of packets containing heroin laced with fentanyl from Abney, and then obtained a search warrant for Abney's residence in Sugar Notch, where additional amounts of heroin and fentanyl were found.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, who were assisted by the Kingston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O'Hara prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated in 2017 as part of a renewed focus on targeting violent criminals.

This case was also brought as part of a district-wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney's Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin-related offenses.

Abney's sentence serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for those who engage in heroin and fentanyl trafficking. The opioid epidemic has claimed countless lives, and it is imperative that we continue to take a robust approach to combating this crisis.

The United States Attorney's Office will continue to work tirelessly with law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those who seek to profit from the sale of illicit substances.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Jeffrey Abney

Exact Charges: Distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl

City and State: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Exact Date: August 15, 2019 (sentencing date)

Sentence: Seven years' imprisonment and three years on supervised release

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/luzerne-county-man-sentenced-seven-years-imprisonment-distributing-heroin-and-fentanyl