Krystle Barretto Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking Charges
In a shocking turn of events, Krystle Barretto, 33, a resident of Port Vue, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to heroin trafficking charges in federal court. This development comes after a lengthy investigation led by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which is headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Barretto was accused of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributed more than 100 grams of heroin. The court was also informed that she arranged for approximately 500 bricks (i.e. 25,000 stamp bags) of heroin to be transported from the Patterson, New Jersey area to the McKeesport, Pa. area, which was seized by law enforcement officers.
During the investigation, authorities also discovered a loaded, Glock 17, 9mm handgun, an additional five bricks of heroin, and a large money counter in the bedroom of her residence in Port Vue. These findings only added to the severity of the charges against Barretto.
The investigation, which utilized Title III intercepts from December 2014 through April 2015 of 10 different cellular telephones, surveillance, controlled drug purchases, and other investigative techniques, established the existence of a number of overlapping and interrelated drug distribution networks at work in the afflicted regions.
Barretto’s guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon on June 19, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, or both.
Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. Johnston is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
With this guilty plea, Barretto faces a lengthy prison sentence and a significant fine. The people of Port Vue and surrounding areas can rest a little easier knowing that a major player in the heroin trade has been brought to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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