New York Drug Kingpin Receives Over 15 Years in Prison for Pennsylvania Drug Operations

SCRANTON, PA – A New York-based drug trafficker has been sentenced to a significant federal prison term for his involvement in drug distribution in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Jamell R. O’Neal, 42, of East Meadow, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley to 188 months of incarceration. Following his prison sentence, O’Neal will also face a five-year term of supervised release.

The sentencing stems from O’Neal’s guilty plea to charges of possession with intent to distribute substantial quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. Federal agents initiated an investigation into illegal drug trafficking activities in Wilkes-Barre from September 2023 through at least February 2024. Through surveillance, agents observed O’Neal and an accomplice engaging in multiple street-level drug transactions from at least two residences in the city.

The investigation culminated on February 7, 2024, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at one of the involved residences. During the execution of the warrant, O’Neal was present and taken into custody. The search yielded a trafficking quantity of crack cocaine, fentanyl, and crystal methamphetamine. Additionally, authorities recovered a loaded .38 caliber revolver and various drug paraphernalia. O’Neal’s prior felony conviction prohibited him from possessing a firearm, making the discovery of the weapon a key factor in the charges.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve. The program emphasizes building trust, supporting community-based violence prevention efforts, and implementing focused enforcement strategies to enhance neighborhood safety. The investigation and prosecution of this case were conducted by the Luzerne County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti handling the prosecution.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

---