Shane Lopez will spend the next five years behind federal prison bars as a judge sentenced him Wednesday in Scranton for participating in a heroin-trafficking ring in Schuylkill County.
Lopez, 22, of Shenandoah, must serve five years in a federal correctional institution, plus an additional four years on supervised release after completing the prison term, and pay a $100 special assessment, Senior U.S. District Judge James M. Munley ruled.
In sentencing Lopez, Munley said his actions contributed to the opioid epidemic in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Lopez pleaded guilty on Feb. 2 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of 100 grams of heroin. He admitted being a sub-distributor of heroin for Rhashean “Chicago” Strange, the leader of the conspiracy, according to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler.
Strange has pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. He and Lopez are two of the 11 people who have been charged in the case, according to Brandler.
A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment against Lopez on May 3, 2016, alleging he participated in a heroin-trafficking ring that operated from 2012 to May 2016 in the county.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police and Shenandoah police.
Federal prosecutors brought the case as part of the Heroin Initiative, a districtwide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic of heroin use and distribution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office leads the initiative, which targets heroin traffickers in the 33 counties of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, according to Brandler.
Contact the writer: pbortner@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6014