Wilkes-Barre Man Sentenced To 87 Months’ Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Luis Vazques, age 39, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 87 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for drug trafficking and firearms charges.

According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Vazques pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (approximately 5,000 individual doses) and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.  Vazques also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, Monroe, Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Office and Stroud Area Regional Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce crime. 

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