Three Pennsylvania residents have been sentenced in federal court for their involvement in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
The sentences, handed down by United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan, are as follows:
– Azheem Ellis, 49, from Philadelphia, Pa., received a sentence of 96 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
– James Dotson, 47, from Johnstown, Pa., was sentenced to 180 months in prison and ten years of supervised release.
– Sandra Box, 59, from East Conemaugh, Pa., was given a sentence of 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
According to the court’s findings, between April 2019 and July 2021 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Ellis conspired with others to distribute significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and crack. Dotson was involved in distributing methamphetamine and other drugs during the same period. In June 2021, Dotson also unlawfully possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. From February to April 2021, Box participated in distributing heroin and crack.
The defendants were targeted through a federal wiretap investigation focusing on Ellis and Dotson as primary subjects.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted the case for the government. Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti praised several law enforcement agencies for their roles in the investigation leading to this successful prosecution. These agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations among others.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at disrupting high-level drug traffickers using collaborative efforts from multiple law enforcement agencies across different levels.
