HARRISBURG — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Armani V. Carson, age 21, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was indicted by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The indictment charges Carson with possessing a firearm by a convicted felon, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the charges against Carson are a result of allegations that Carson sold heroin on the streets of Harrisburg, PA in December 2014 and January 2015.  The Pennsylvania State Police seized a stolen firearm and additional heroin from Carson’s home in the 1900 block of Bellevue Road on January 6, 2015.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith A. Taylor.

Indictments and Criminal Informations 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 is a lifetime 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.

 

# # #