Former Lackawanna County Prison Contract Employee Charged With Providing And Attempting To Provide Drugs And Contraband To Inmates

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jerry Defazio, age 39, of Archbald, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with providing and attempting to provide contraband, including illegal drugs, to inmates at the Lackawanna County Prison.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the information alleges that Defazio provided and attempted to provide oxycodone, suboxone, and tobacco to inmates at the prison between November 2015 and April 2016. The information states that at the time of the criminal conduct, Defazio was a prison contract employee.

The charge stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

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.

The maximum penalty under federal law 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.

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