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 Alshaqah Tariq Powell, age 45, of North Carolina, was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release by United States District Court Judge Yvette Kane for possession with intent to distribute heroin. 

According to the United States Attorney David J. Freed, on November 3, 2015, Powell was traveling from North Carolina through Dauphin County on Interstate 81 when he was involved in a traffic stop by a Pennsylvania State Police trooper, leading to his arrest and the discovery of over 15,000 individual bags of heroin in his trunk.  The heroin had an approximate street value of between $40,000 and $120,000.   

This matter was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Schinnour prosecuted the case. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin and other opioids. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin and opioid 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.

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