New York Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that George Abreu, age 36, of New York City, pleaded guilty today to the charge of conspiracy to distribution cocaine hydrochloride before Senior United States District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the charge and guilty plea are part of a continuing investigation into a Pittston-area drug ring by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Abreu appeared today in federal court and admitted to being involved in the supply of between 3.5 and 5 kilograms of cocaine.

Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus is prosecuting the case.

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 this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute 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.