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 Nicolaus Harman, age 21, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 24, 2017, by a federal grand jury on robbery, drug trafficking, and firearm charges.

 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on April 16, 2017, in Monroe County, Harman, along with others, conspired to rob a heroin dealer for his cash and heroin.  During the course of that robbery, Harman allegedly committed and threatened physical violence towards the victim.  At the time of the robbery, Harman had previously been convicted of a felony and was not legally permitted to possess a firearm (a Ruger P-85 9mm handgun).

 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stroud Regional Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case.

 

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.

 

This case was further 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 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 for this offense is life 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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