HARRISBURG, Pa. – Three men, Curtis Mitchell, 37, of Harrisburg, Eddie Viera, 42, of Shippensburg, and Brandon Brooks, 26, of York, were indicted in three separate cases today by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg.
According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, Mitchell is charged with the sale of heroin and possession of a short-barreled shotgun. He was arrested by the Harrisburg Police Department at his residence during the execution of a search warrant on November 16, 2015.
Police had previously observed Mitchell allegedly selling heroin out of his home. During the search, police allegedly found a short-barreled shotgun under Mitchell’s mattress. Short-barreled shotguns violate the Federal Firearms Act if not properly registered, and, as a convicted felon, Mitchell is prohibited from possessing any firearm.
The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Harrisburg Police Department. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Viera is charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin. He was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police on February 15, 2016 near mile marker 77 of Interstate 81 after a high speed pursuit for nearly 20 miles. Along the route of the pursuit, Troopers found over 950 individual packets of heroin which Viera allegedly had thrown out the window of his car. Viera was already the subject of an arrest warrant after members of the Franklin County Drug Task Force observed him allegedly distributing heroin and found over 70 individual packets of heroin in his apartment in December 2014.
The matter was investigated by the Franklin County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Viera faces up to 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Brooks is charged with possession with the intent to distribute heroin. He was stopped by West York Police for Driving Under the Influence on November 27, 2015. During the arrest, officers found 9 bundles, or 90 individual packets, of heroin on Brooks.
The matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the West York Police Department and York County District Attorney’s Office. Brooks could be sentenced up to 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
