ALLENTOWN MAN CONVICTED OF GUN AND DRUG CHARGES AFTER HALL MANOR SHOOTING

Martin C. Carlson, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that Nelson Diaz, a/k/a “Panama,” age 29, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was found guilty in the courtroom of United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, of two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and distribution of heroin. After a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before returning the verdicts.

Testimony at trial revealed that Harrisburg Bureau of Police responded to a shooting at Hall Manor on March 29, 2006,involving Diaz and another individual who later died. Witnesses testified that both men were involved in heroin trafficking and that the dispute resulted from concerns that one drug trafficker was underselling the other with cheaper heroin.

Diaz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment to be served consecutively to other sentences.

This case was investigated by the Harrisburg Bureau of Police and Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Dauphin County Senior Deputy District Attorney Michael Consiglio who is also cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.

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