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 a grand jury in Harrisburg indicted eight men yesterday for possessing, distributing, and conspiring to possess and distribute substantial amounts of heroin.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the indictment charges:

  • Jose Perez Delgado, age 32;

  • Addan Brito Torres, age 28;

  • Yovelin Mendez Marte, age 36;

  • Rashawn Spriggs, age 28;

  • Deajon Spriggs, age 18;

  • Joshua Baker, age 19, all of Chambersburg;

  • Brandon Morant, age 26, and

  • Jerthione Bell, age 28, both of Lancaster

with distributing more than 100 grams of heroin and conspiring to distribute more than 1,000 grams of heroin from October 1, 2015 to January 7, 2016 in Chambersburg, Franklin County and elsewhere.

The indictment was unsealed following the arrests of Bell and Morant yesterday. Delgado, Brito-Torres and Marte were arrested on Friday, January 8, 2016. Rashawn Spriggs, Deajon Spriggs and Joshua Baker were arrested last week on local charges related to the federal indictment and will appear in federal court for arraignment on January 20, 2016. All defendants are in custody.

The investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Franklin County Drug Task Force.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe.

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.

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 is life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum 10 year term 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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