SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Laurence Cadogan, age 32, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 7, 2017, by a federal grand jury on heroin trafficking and gun charges.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Cadogan possessed with intent to distribute heroin and unlawfully possessed firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes allegedly occurred on October 26, 2016, in Tannersville. Police and agents seized more than 3,000 bags of heroin and two firearms, a Ruger .380 caliber handgun and a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun, during the investigation. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of the two firearms.
The charges against the Cadogan resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the cases.
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.
This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.
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 for the gun offense is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. That charge also carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison. The maximum penalty under federal law for the drug offense is 20 years in prison, 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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