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 today that Derrel Wilson, age 32, of Mount Vernon, New York, was indicted on April 11, 2017, by a federal grand jury on sex trafficking charges.
The indictment was unsealed on April 14, 2017, and Wilson’s initial appearance was held April 18, 2017, before United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Wilson trafficked three women as prostitutes through force, threat, and coercion and that Wilson provided his victims with controlled substances, including heroin. The indictment further charges Wilson with transporting women in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Monroe County Detectives Office, Stroud Regional Police Department, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case.
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 to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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 for this offense is a life 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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