SCRANTON--The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Criminal Information was filed October 19, 2015 in U.S. District Court in Scranton charging Jacob Davis, a 30-year-old Hazleton resident with distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin during a three-month period in the Hazleton area between June and August of this year.
The charge resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Hazleton Police.
The government also filed a plea agreement with the defendant which is subject to the approval of the court.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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.
The maximum penalty under federal law is imprisonment for 20 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1 million fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
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