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

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a criminal Information was filed today charging a Hazleton resident with distributing more than 100 grams of heroin and illegally reentering the country after having been removed as an illegal alien.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the Information alleges that Edwin Guerrero-Guerrero a/k/a “Angel Dueno Matos,” age 35, who is a citizen of the Dominican Republic and was residing in Hazleton at the time of his arrest, distributed and possessed with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, and illegally reentered the United States after having been previously removed as an illegal alien.

The charges stem from an investigation by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Hazleton Police.

Guerrero-Guerrero faces a potential maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine if he is convicted of the drug charge, and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is convicted of the illegal reentry charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

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 total of 60 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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