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 Wendell Freeman, age 30, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and ammunition charges.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that in September 2024, Freeman distributed cocaine on multiple occasions in Luzerne County.  The indictment further alleges that on September 25, 2024, Freeman possessed fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana for purposes of distribution.  The indictment also alleges that Freeman possessed multiple rounds of various ammunition when he was prohibited by a prior felony conviction from possessing ammunition.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts 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 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.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 30 years of imprisonment, 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.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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