Johnstown Man Charged with Dealing Crack Cocaine

United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, November 3, 2009, that on May 12, 2009, Marcellus Lumpkin, a resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of distribution of less than five grams of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack.”

The one-count indictment named Lumpkin, age 29, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment presented to the court, on September 24, 2008, Lumpkin distributed less than five grams of cocaine base.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000, or both.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Johnstown Police Department, the Cambria County Drug Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Laurel Highlands Resident Agency conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.