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 Corwin Cordell Garrett, age 46, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 24 months in prison to be followed by 6 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, for distributing heroin.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Garrett was intercepted during a DEA wire investigation communicating with coconspirators regarding drug trafficking of heroin in the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area.  Garrett also sold heroin to a confidential informant who was working with agents as part of the investigation. Garrett was responsible for distributing between 80 and 100 grams of heroin.

Garrett was indicted with the following codefendants:

  • John Hawk, a/k/a “Righteous,” was sentenced on July 26, 2022, to time-served to be followed by six years supervised release for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute heroin;
  • Al-Salaam I. Hale, a/k/a “Billz,” pleaded guilty on April 14, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams of heroin and distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and is awaiting sentencing; and,
  • Alsherik Ramadam Moate, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2021, to distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and is awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.

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.

This case is also 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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