New Castle Dealer Gets 6+ Years

⏱ 3 min read

Jauan Searcy, 44, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, is headed to federal prison for over six and a half years. The conviction comes after he pleaded guilty to pushing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in the New Castle area between August 2023 and August 2024, and for being a convicted felon caught with a shotgun. He was sentenced on December 11, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville.

Federal agents raided Searcy’s New Castle residence on August 1, 2024, shortly after a grand jury indicted him. They found a loaded shotgun leaning against his bed – a clear violation of federal law for anyone with a prior felony conviction. The bust capped an investigation that traced the drugs back to a larger trafficking operation based in both Detroit and New Castle.

Prosecutors presented evidence showing Searcy acted as a local retailer, connecting the Detroit supply with customers in and around New Castle. The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) — a multi-agency effort born out of Executive Order 14159 — brought down Searcy and his network. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Haller handled the prosecution.

The HSTF investigation involved a massive list of agencies: the FBI, DEA, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence and Mercer County Drug Task Forces, New Castle and Pennsylvania State Police, Michigan State Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security and even the Douglas County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Office. Searcy will also face six years of supervised release after completing his 80-month sentence.