HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on September 1, 2021, Jeffrey Christopher Cerrato, age 21, of Oxford, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking offenses.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that on January 14, 2021, in York County, Pennsylvania, Cerrato possessed with the intent to distribute approximately one pound of methamphetamine.
The matter was investigated by the York City Police Department, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Miovas, Jr. is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement 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 enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce 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.
The maximum penalty for the distribution of a controlled substance offense is life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years of incarceration, a term of at least 5 years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $10,000,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; 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.
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