Pittston Man Receives Over Eight-Year Sentence for Fentanyl Distribution

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Anthony Joseph Nieves, a 32-year-old resident of Pittston, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 105 months, or approximately eight years and nine months, in federal prison for his role in distributing fentanyl. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr., on September 4, 2025.

The investigation into Nieves’s activities began in October 2024, when members of the Pittston City Police Department utilized a confidential informant to make multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Nieves. This led to a subsequent search warrant being executed at Nieves’s residence on November 1, 2024. During the search, law enforcement officials discovered fentanyl, items commonly associated with drug trafficking, a sum of $1,274 in cash, and body armor. This conviction marks Nieves’s fifth offense related to drug trafficking.

The collaborative effort to bring Nieves to justice involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittston City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts was responsible for prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering stronger community-police relationships and supporting community-based violence prevention efforts. The program emphasizes strategic enforcement priorities and measures outcomes to enhance neighborhood safety.

Furthermore, this case aligns with a broader district-wide initiative targeting the ongoing opioid epidemic, specifically focusing on the distribution of heroin and its related substances. This initiative, spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, involves coordinated efforts across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals involved in heroin-related offenses throughout the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Residents in communities affected by drug trafficking can expect continued law enforcement efforts to dismantle operations that supply dangerous substances.

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

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