Williamsport Men Indicted For Distribution Of Heroin And Cocaine

WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a grand jury in Williamsport returned a five-count indictment yesterday charging two Williamsport men with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the indictment alleges, in or around June 2014, Rasheem Jarbar Ruley, age 24, and Antoine Paris Davis, age 38, conspired to distribute heroin and cocaine to drug users and sellers in Williamsport and distributed and possessed those substances with the intent to distribute on four separate occasions.  The indictment alleges that Ruley and Davis stored heroin and cocaine at their residence on Tinsman Avenue in Williamsport, including a large bag containing over 100 grams of heroin (136 small bags of heroin packaged for sale), 16 bags of cocaine, and digital scales.

This matter was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Williamsport Bureau of Police, the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George Rocktashel.

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.

Indictments 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 40 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the sentencing 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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