West Hazleton man sentenced to nearly 6 years in federal prison for drug trafficking

WEST HAZLETON – A 23-year-old West Hazleton man will spend nearly six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge.

Yerigardy Tejeda-Zoquier, 23, of West Hazleton, was sentenced earlier this week to 70 months in prison on the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam said in a media release that Tejeda-Zoquier previously pleaded guilty and admitted to possessing between 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms of highly pure crystal methamphetamine for further distribution in the Luzerne County and Carbon County areas in 2021.

Investigators purchased crystal methamphetamine from Tejeda-Zoquier on multiple occasions between January and March 2021, in both Luzerne and Carbon Counties, and then seized additional crystal methamphetamine from two vehicles utilized by Tejeda-Zoquier.

The charges against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case.

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