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 Lamar Johnson, age 34, of York, was sentenced on December 20, 2021, to 20 years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner for trafficking kilos of cocaine and heroin laced with fentanyl.

According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the investigation began with an overdose death in the City of York on December 2, 2017.  Investigators identified the victim’s drug source as Johnson. They further determined that Luis Minier, a/k/a “Cito” and Brandon Orr, a/k/a “B Orr”, were bringing kilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine into York on a weekly basis from September 2017 until December 2017.  Police arrested and seized over 700 grams of heroin and a kilogram of cocaine during police searches in December 2017.

Johnson’s coconspirators were sentenced to the following:

  • Luis Minier, a/k/a “Cito,” age 29, of York, entered a guilty plea to drug trafficking and was sentenced to 10 years in prison;
  • Javiel Snellings, age 28, of York entered a guilty plea to drug trafficking and was sentenced to two years of probation; and
  • Brandon Orr entered a guilty plea to drug trafficking and was sentenced to 18 ½ years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Capitol Safe Streets Task Force, which included representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the York County Drug Task Force, and Springettsbury Township Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio. 

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent

crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in 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.  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.   

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