May 14, 2014

Shippensburg Man Federally Charged with Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dante Kaleek Darby, 32, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg charging him with four counts of distribution of a controlled substance, cocaine, between September 2012 and October 2013 in Franklin County.

If convicted, Brown faces a statutory maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1 million fine.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Franklin County Drug Task Force. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura J. Kerstetter, of the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office.

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 guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

In these particular cases, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 20 years’ imprisonment and 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.