HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on August 24, a grand jury in Harrisburg indicted two men on charges of possessing and conspiring to possess and distribute methamphetamine.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the indictment charges Delfin Ricardo-Hechevarria, 55, Albany, NY, and Jorge Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 59, Reading, PA, with possessing methamphetamine and with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine on July 3, 2016 in Cumberland County. Both men were arrested when a search of their vehicle incident to a traffic stop led to the seizure of methamphetamine. Both defendants are in custody.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe.
Indictments 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 on each charge is life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a 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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