WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the
Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Zakhary Wayne Pryer, age 39, of
Old Lycoming Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted on March 14, 2019, by a
federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the
indictment alleges that Pryer distributed heroin and cocaine on five separate
dates between October 12, 2018 and November 19, 2018. The indictment also alleges that on November
20, 2018, Pryer possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of
methamphetamine and additional amounts of heroin, cocaine, marihuana, and
phencyclidine (PCP). The indictment also
alleges that Pryer possessed three pistols in furtherance of his drug
trafficking activities.
The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police,
the Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement Unit, and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel is
prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as 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 make our neighborhoods safer
for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of
the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all
U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and
tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based
strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was also 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.
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 this offense is
life 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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