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 Clifford Johnson, age 58, of Franklin Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on February 21, 2023, before US. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to the charges of distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Johnson admitted to distributing and conspiring with others to distribute between 500 and 1500 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the Susquehanna County area between August 2019 and April 2020.
The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
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.
Under federal law, the drug trafficking offenses carry a maximum possible penalty of up to twenty years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. 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.
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