Pennsylvania Man Receives Life Sentence for Fatal Fentanyl Distribution

SCRANTON, PA – A man from Whitehall, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for distributing a fatal dose of fentanyl that led to the death of a woman in East Stroudsburg. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick on July 1, 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Dimitris Smith Jr., 48, was found responsible for providing the lethal amount of fentanyl on December 11, 2023, to a 38-year-old female who subsequently died after ingesting the substance. The investigation into Smith’s activities also revealed his involvement in distributing fentanyl and cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer between March 14, 2024, and April 1, 2024. Notably, at the time of these offenses, Smith was already on federal supervised release following a previous drug trafficking conviction. He had been sentenced to two years imprisonment for this supervised release violation by Senior United States Judge Robert D. Mariani on January 26, 2026, a sentence that will be served consecutively to his life sentence. This marks Smith’s third federal drug trafficking conviction.

The prosecution presented substantial evidence during a five-day trial to secure the conviction. Thirty-two witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecution, including specialists in forensic pathology, forensic toxicology, serology DNA profiling, forensic chemistry, and historical cell site data analysis. The victim’s cell phone data and text messages, DNA evidence collected at the crime scene, and CashApp payment records were among the critical pieces of evidence used to establish that Smith was the dealer who supplied the fentanyl responsible for the victim’s death.

The investigation into Smith’s drug distribution network was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Patrick Bannon led the prosecution of the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. Additionally, the case was brought under a district-wide initiative to address the pervasive issue of heroin use and distribution. This “Heroin Initiative” is spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and involves coordinated efforts from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals involved in heroin-related offenses within the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Individuals involved in drug trafficking face lengthy prison sentences, and in cases resulting in death, the penalties can extend to life imprisonment. Residents are reminded that law enforcement agencies are actively working to combat the opioid crisis, and community cooperation is vital in these efforts.

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

Video Spotlight