Lebanon Man Indicted For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

 HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on May 19, 2021, Jorge Roque, Jr., age 34, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Roque with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin on or about December 19, 2020, in Lebanon County. The indictment also charges Roque with being in possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.   

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Upon conviction, Roque faces a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of up to life.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offenses; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.