The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Robert F. Evans, Jr., age 38, of Moosic, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a one-count Criminal Information charging that he distributed oxycodone on numerous occasions between August 2012 and July 29, 2013. At the time of the offense, Evans was employed as a police officer with the Hughestown Borough Police Department.

At the guilty plea hearing, United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion accepted Evans’ guilty plea after Evans acknowledged distributing approximately 750 oxycodone pills during the scheme; possessing a firearm in connection with the activity; and abusing his position of trust as a police officer which significantly facilitated and concealed the offense. Judge Mannion ordered that a presentence investigation report be compiled in advance of the sentencing.

United States Attorney Peter J. Smith stated that the charge is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus.

A sentence following a guilty plea is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. In this particular case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute U.S. Department of Justice is 20 years’ 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.