A Monroe County man has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for drug trafficking offenses. Pernell Riddick, 36, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, received the sentence from United States District Judge Julia K. Munley after being convicted of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that on September 2, 2022, Riddick possessed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Monroe County with the intent to distribute them. During this activity, he also had two firearms: a 9-millimeter Smith & Wesson handgun and a 9-millimeter Taurus G2C handgun.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice that aims to combat illegal immigration and eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators. The operation consolidates resources from various DOJ programs including OCDETFs and PSN; more information about this initiative can be found at https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline.
The investigation was carried out by the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson prosecuted the case.
