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 Pennsylvania announced today that Andrew Alexander, age 31, York, Pennsylvania, was convicted yesterday of conspiring to trafficking heroin. The three-day trial was held before U.S. District Court Judge Yvette Kane.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the jury returned with the verdict of guilty after approximately three hours of deliberation.  The charge carries a maximum punishment of twenty years in prison. The jury found Alexander not guilty of the charge of drug possession with intent to distribute.

The case arose from a search warrant executed on a home in March 2013 by York City Police. During the search, police found 35 grams of crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin.  Most of the heroin – 900 bags – was found floating in a toilet. 

Police officers and occupants of the home testified at trial.  According to the witnesses, when Alexander heard police at the front door, he ran to the bathroom and tried to flush the heroin down the toilet.  

Veronica Rivera and Andrew Gonzalez were also charged with drug trafficking crimes for their role in drugs found in this house.  Both pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute drugs and are awaiting sentencing.

Police found, in the pants pocket of Alexander, what was described by witnesses as a “drug owe” sheet.  Names on the sheet correspond to subjects prosecuted in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s recent “Southside” racketeering prosecution, which has resulted in 21 convictions or guilty pleas to date.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the York City Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio and Scott Ford.

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.

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