SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kevin Charles Brown, age 39, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on September 19, 2019, to 240 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin, more than 280 grams of cocaine base (crack), and fentanyl (one kilogram is equivalent to approximately 40,000-50,000 individual doses).   

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Brown previously pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy during 2015 and 2016.  Brown rented a residence on East Birch Street in Hazleton where he and multiple other individuals distributed heroin, crack cocaine and fentanyl to customers on a daily basis.  Brown also admitted that he possessed a firearm in connection with his drug distribution activities.   

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Kevin Charles Brown, age 38, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that in 2016 Brown conspired to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine and delivered heroin and fentanyl on multiple occasions.

The case was investigated by the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotic Investigations, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.

This case was 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.

This case was brought as 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.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also 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. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

 

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