LUZERNE COUNTY DRUG DEALER AND ARMED ROBBER
SENTENCED TO 114 MONTHS

Martin C. Carlson, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a 22-year-old man who admitted to participating in a drug conspiracy and an armed robbery of a gun store was sentenced today to serve nine and one-half years in prison by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Edwin M. Kosik.

Carlson stated that Samuel Wright, who used the street name “Dre,” formerly of Jamaica and New York City, pleaded guilty to both offenses on September 6, 2007. Wright admitted to distributing crack cocaine and marijuana in Luzerne County during 2004-2006, and to participating in the robbery of Bob’s Sporting Good’s Store in Hazleton on November 28, 2005. Wright and two others forcibly stole 35 firearms from the store.

Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 5, 2006, as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police.

Judge Kosik ordered that Wright’s federal sentence run consecutive to the 15- to 30-year sentence he is currently serving for a homicide he committed in Luzerne County.

Judge Kosik also ordered Wright to pay more than $14,000 in restitution, and to pay a $200 special assessment. Wright must also serve five years of supervised release after being released from prison.

Carlson noted that the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

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