WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Markeese Askew, age 28, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 192 months’ imprisonment followed by a six-year term of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann on drug trafficking charges.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Davidson pleaded guilty in october 2020 to conspiring to distribute heroin and a mixture of heroin and carfentanil. During a three-day period in June 2017, there was a reash of drug overdoses in Williamsport. At the time, UPMC Susquehanna in Williamsport and Wellsboro reported treating 51 such cases within a 48-hour period.
Two of Davidson’s co-conspirators, Wayne Davidson and Nathan Crowder also pleaded guilty in October 2020 to the same charge. They were both sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment in March 2021. Raymond Howard was convicted after a five-day jury trial and awaits sentencing.
In total, Askew and the three co-conspirators were charged with delivering a mixture of heroin and carfentanil that resulted in serious bodily injury to eight individuals.
The case was investigated by the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit, Montoursville Police Department, Old Lycoming Township Police Department, South Williamsport Police Department, Williamsport Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Alisan V. Martin and Geoffrey W. MacArthur 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. This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.
This case was also 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 to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
More Pennsylvania News
- Kawasaki swiped in Wilkes-Barre: Police investigate motorcycle theft on West Beatty StreetWILKES-BARRE, PA — City police are investigating the theft of a motorcycle that was reported stolen from outside a residence on West Beatty Street earlier this week. According to the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, officers responded to the scene around 10:38 a.m. on Wednesday following a report of a stolen vehicle. The victim, a 44-year-old
- Penbrook man hit with 40 charges in rape, sexual extortion case involving multiple victimsPENBROOK, PA — A 26-year-old man from Penbrook is facing 40 criminal charges, including rape and sexual extortion, after police say he used threats and deception to coerce multiple victims into sex acts. Skylar Vandevander was arrested on April 17 and arraigned the following day. He is currently being held without bail in Dauphin County
- Manhunt underway for murder suspect in Harrisburg shootingHARRISBURG, Pa. — Police are searching for 24-year-old Teriq Coleman, who is wanted in connection with a deadly shooting earlier this week in the city’s Midtown neighborhood. Coleman has been charged in the April 14 homicide at North 4th and Muench Streets. He faces multiple felony counts, including Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Possession of
- Fugitive found hiding under bed after multi-county warrant sweepFugitive Duquesne man found hiding under bed in West Mifflin apartment PITTSBURGH, PA — A man wanted on multiple bench warrants across three counties was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after sheriff’s detectives found him concealed under a bed inside a West Mifflin apartment. Nicholas Lomax, of Duquesne, was located and arrested by Allegheny County
- Wilkes-Barre woman reports fraudulent utility accounts opened in her nameWILKES-BARRE, PA — A 51-year-old city resident has reported being the victim of identity fraud after discovering that multiple utility accounts were opened using her personal information. Key Points Victim alerts police after suspicious activity discovered The woman visited Wilkes-Barre City Police Headquarters on Thursday afternoon to report the fraud. She informed officers that someone