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 Chambersburg man has pled guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute heroin.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Rashawn Spriggs, age 28, of Chambersburg, pled guilty before United States District Court Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner to conspiring to distribute more than 1,000 grams of heroin from October 1, 2015 to January 7, 2016 in Franklin County and elsewhere.
Sentencing is deferred pending the preparation of a presentence report. Co-defendant Jerthione Bell has already pled guilty and is also awaiting sentencing. Co-defendants Addan Brito-Torres, Yovelin Mendez-Marte, Jose Perez-Delgado, Joshua Baker, Brandon Morant and Deajon Spriggs are all awaiting trial. All were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2016.
The investigation is being conducted by the Harrisburg Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Lancaster and Franklin County Drug Task Forces. 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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