Columbia County Man Charged With Drug Distribution Resulting In Death

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jeffrey Scott Jones, age 36, of Orangeville, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking that resulted in death.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Jones sold a mixture of heroin and fentanyl to the victim on July 28, 2016, and the victim died as a result from the use of the drugs.

The case was investigated by the Scott Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey MacArthur is prosecuting 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. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin 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

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

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.

Jones faces a minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty under federal law of life imprisonment, a term of three years’ supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1 million dollar 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.

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