Maria Pina, a 44-year-old Mexican national, Pleads Guilty to Interstate Heroin Trafficking

In a shocking turn of events, Maria Pina, a resident of Illinois, has pleaded guilty to interstate travel in aid of a drug trafficking conspiracy. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania made the announcement on [date] before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Pina admitted to transporting heroin from Illinois to Pennsylvania on February 12, 2014. The charge against Pina resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Pennsylvania State Police, and Berks County Detectives.

Pina now faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs.

The investigation that led to Pina’s arrest was a collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies, demonstrating their commitment to combating drug trafficking and keeping communities safe.

A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The outcome of this case is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement officials to bring those involved in drug trafficking to justice.

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