Luzerne County Man Charged With Drug Trafficking Offense

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael Verbitsky, age 37, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for a drug trafficking offense.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on April 4, 2024, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Verbitsky distributed 50 grams and more of methamphetamine.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF"), the Kingston Police Department, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Pittston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is imprisonment for forty years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. 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.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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