SCRANTON-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Barry Patonja, age 33, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment on January 9, 2017, by United States District Court Judge Malachy Mannion, for his role in the conspiracy of distributing heroin and cocaine.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Pantjoa and his co-conspirators distributed more than 500 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of heroin, which is equivalent to approximately 2,500 retail bags, during the summer of 2014.
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
The case was investigated by the Scranton Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney William S. Houser prosecuted the case.
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