Harrisburg Man Indicted For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

HARRISBURG: The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jean Cortes Malave, age 40, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 11, 2023, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges. 

According to U.S. Attorney Gerard Karam, the indictment alleges that on November 29, 2022, in York County, Pennsylvania, Cortes Malave distributed a quantity of fentanyl.  The indictment further alleges that on that same day, Cortes Malave possessed an additional quantity of fentanyl with the intent to distribute the controlled substance.  The indictment also alleges that Cortes Malave possessed a .380 Baretta Pico handgun and a Highpoint 40 caliber pistol in furtherance of the above-alleged drug trafficking crime.

The case was investigated by the Northern York County Regional Police, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Monroe is prosecuting the case.

This case is 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The maximum penalty for the distribution of a controlled substance offense is a term of 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of at least three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1,000,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is life imprisonment, a term of five years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. 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.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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