Alleged heroin dealers detained in Pennsylvania

Two men who the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General claims are heroin dealers have been detained in the aftermath of a combined investigation by Region V of the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the AG’s Organized Crime Section. The two men, aged 35 and 33, were allegedly in possession of 16 guns, 75,000 bags of heroin, more than $100,000 in jewelry and cash, two luxury automobiles and Cuban cigars, all of which were seized when the men were detained, the attorney general reported in a June 9 statement. Both men are now in the Allegheny County Prison pending prosecution by the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section. They have been charged with possession of heroin, possession with the intent to deliver heroin, persons not to possess firearms, criminal conspiracy and corrupt organizations; further charges may be forthcoming. Given the severe penalties that people can face if they are convicted of drug offenses, they may wish to employ criminal defense lawyers. In this particular case, a conviction for possession with intent to deliver heroin alone carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. As the prosecution of many drug crimes is centered on physical evidence, specifically any drugs supposedly seized from the defendants, a criminal defense lawyer in such a case could attempt to cast doubt on the legality of any searches performed by law enforcement officials that lead to the discovery of illegal substances. The defense lawyer might also be able to arrange a plea bargain with the prosecutor in order to reduce some of the charges or the potential penalties faced by the defendants. Source: WYTV, “Pittsburgh men arrested with 75,000 bags of heroin”, June 09, 2014