Hawley woman pleads guilty to heroin distribution resulting in death

HAWLEY — Brittany Ann Banscher, 21, of Hawley pleaded guilty on Dec. 19 to a charge of drug distribution resulting in death, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Banscher admitted to knowingly and intentionally distributing heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, which resulted in the death of another. Banscher was previously indicted by a federal grand jury in Scranton on Aug. 30. Banscher faces a minimum mandatory 20-year sentence as a result of her guilty plea, made before United States District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton,
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Scranton Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a districtwide initiative to combat the nationwide heroin epidemic. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the judge. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1 million fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature of the offense, the history of the defendant, and the need to protect the public.