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 Michelle Beagle, age 39, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania was sentenced on September 11, 2018, to 235 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for heroin distribution resulting in death.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Beagle pleaded guilty on March 18, 2016, to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin laced with fentanyl to a 20-year old man, who overdosed and died on June 3, 2015. 

Beagle was indicted by a grand jury in November 2015, along with Alfred Yale, age 39, a/k/a “Alfie,” also of Wilkes-Barre.  Judge Mariani sentenced Yale to 262 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release for the same charge.

At sentencing, Judge Mariani stated that any lesser sentence than 235 months’ imprisonment would denigrate the memory of the victim and make a mockery of the law.

Judge Mariani also ordered that upon release from prison, Beagle be supervised by the U.S. probation office for a period of 3 years and that Beagle pay restitution in the amount of $8,174.13. 

The investigation was jointly conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Scranton, and the South Abington Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski 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 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.

 

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