Galeton Man Sentenced To 20 Years’ Imprisonment For Distributing Fentanyl Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury

 WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on August 27, 2020, David Piaquadio, age 63, of Galeton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to 20 years’ imprisonment following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone, Fentanyl and Heroin, distribution of Oxycodone and Fentanyl, and attempted distribution of Oxycodone.

According to U.S. Attorney David J. Freed, on March 12, 2015, Piaquadio delivered Fentanyl to an individual who overdosed after using the drug.  The overdose victim was found by his mother unconscious with a syringe stuck in his right arm in close proximity to a metal spoon containing Fentanyl residue that was distributed by Piaquadio. 

Piaquadio admitted that he and his girlfriend, who is now deceased, sold between 100 to 120 Oxycodone tablets and one or two Fentanyl patches per month.  On the morning of March 12, 2015, the day he delivered Fentanyl to the overdose victim, Piaquadio filled a prescription for 150 Oxycodone tablets and 10 Fentanyl patches.

The federal investigation was conducted by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Pennsylvania State Police, with the assistance of the Galeton Borough Police Department and the Potter County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey W. MacArthur and George J. Rocktashel prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of Heroin and Opiods like Fentanyl and Oxycodone.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets Opiod 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.

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 20-year mandatory minimum sentence because the drug offense resulted in serious bodily injury, 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.