37-year-old Angel Lopez-Guzman was charged over allegations of drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms Thursday, June 13.
A federal grand jury indicted Lopez-Guzman on the the charges, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The indictment alleges that at time of his arrest, Lopez-Guzman possessed more than 500 grams of cocaine, which he intended to distribute.
Lopez-Guzman, who has a previous conviction for a serious drug felony, was also alleged to be in illegal possession of a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver.
The press release said that Lopez-Guzman could face a maximum penalty of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lebanon County Drug Task Force, according to the release, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera.
Court documents noted that Lopez-Guzman was in possession of these items “on or about January 5, 2024.”
In federal court, Lopez faces one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A LebTown search of court records showed that Lopez-Guzman had also been charged by the Lebanon County District Attorney’s offices Lebanon County Detective Bureau for incidents on the same date. At the time federal charges were announced, Lopez-Guzman was already being held at Lebanon County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail, set at $400,000, for state charges.
Lopez-Guzman is scheduled for an August trial over felony possession of a firearm and felony possession with intent to distribute, along with two additional misdemeanors for possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Dugan confirmed to LebTown that the federal indictment is based on the same facts and circumstances that led to the charges being filed in Lebanon County by the Lebanon County Drug Task Force.
“The entire breadth of the Lebanon Drug Task Force investigational efforts and arrest is the basis for the Federal indictment,” said Dugan. “Our office was aware that AUSA Scalera was seeking an indictment and we provided him with all the investigational information he requested prior to him seeking that indictment.”
Dugan said that the DA’s office also provided information regarding Lopez-Guzman’s criminal history, which can be used during sentencing.
Dugan said he could not disclose portions of the investigation that led to Lopez-Guzman’s arrest on Jan. 5.
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