Heroin Dealer Sentenced to Nine Years Imprisonment
Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that United States District Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie sentenced Jose Quintero, age 25, formerly of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to nine years imprisonment for his involvement in the sale of heroin in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
On March 4, 2008, Quintero pled guilty to the charge of distribution of heroin. The conviction followed an investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement agents received information that Jose Quintero was selling heroin with others. At that time, Jose Quintero was on federal supervised release for possession of a firearm in relation to the distribution of heroin. He had previously received a 60-month prison sentence from United States District Judge Richard P. Conaboy, and had only been release from imprisonment on September 23, 2005, to commence a five-year term of supervised release.
During the course of the most recent investigation, undercover agents made seven purchases heroin from Quintero. Those purchases resulted in the agents obtaining authority to intercept Quintero’s conversations. During a 30-day period beginning on October 12, 2006, the agents intercepted hundreds of drug-related conversations on the wiretap which revealed that Quintero had a large number of drug customers. The wiretap also identified his coconspirators.
In sentencing Quintero, Judge Vanaskie emphasized that Quintero’s crime was particularly egregious in light the highly addictive drug being distributed and the fact that he had only been recently released from prison and was still serving the supervised release portion of his previous sentence. Judge Vanaskie noted that the lengthy prison term was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the crime and to protect the public from Quintero given his recent criminal history.
United States Attorney Carlson noted that parole has been abolished, and Quintero will be required to serve at least 85% of his nine-year sentence, assuming he receives full time off for good behavior while incarcerated.
In addition to the nine-year sentence of imprisonment, United States Attorney Carlson noted that Quintero’s legal problems have not ended. Quintero will have to appear before United States District Judge Conaboy to answer the allegation that he committed drug trafficking crimes while on supervised release. Upon a finding that Quintero violated the conditions of his supervised release, Quintero could receive an additional five years’ imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Gurganus and Robert O’Hara.
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