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 that Jeffrey Swanberry, age 45, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Court Judge James M. Munley to importing “designer drugs,” which are controlled substance analogues, into the United States from China.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, on August 1, 2018, a criminal information was filed charging Swanberry with importation of controlled substance analogues, commonly known as “designer drugs,” into the United States from China between September 2016 and February 2018.  The criminal information identifies the designer drugs as “alpha-ethylaminohexanophenone,” “n-ethylhexedrone,” and “n-ethylpentylone.”

Under federal law, such “designer drugs” are controlled substance analogues, which are chemically similar to controlled substances in Schedule I or II, to the extent they are intended for human consumption, are treated as controlled substances.

Judge Munley ordered a presentence investigation to be completed.  Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The charge against Swanberry stems from an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Pennsylvania State Police.   Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting 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. 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 up to twenty years in prison, 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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