Freeland Woman Sentenced To 36 Months’ Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on July 22, 2019, Liza Robles, age 35, of Freeland, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Robles was convicted following a 13-day jury trial of conspiring to distribute 15 grams of heroin (which is equivalent to approximately 600 individual doses of heroin) from June 2, 2015 and June 8, 2015, and for distributing five grams of heroin on June 8, 2015. Robles also was convicted of providing and conspiring to provide firearms to Roberto Torner, a convicted felon. From May 12, 2012 to August 28, 2017, Robles obtained numerous firearms that she maintained for Torner’s use. Judge Mannion also found that Robles attempted to obstruct justice by lying on the stand at trial about her drug and gun activities.
Robles’s codefendants, Roberto Torner and David Alzugaray-Lugones, also were convicted at trial of heroin trafficking offenses. Alzugaray-Lugones previously was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. Torner was convicted of firearms and explosives charges, and awaits sentencing.
Judge Mannion ordered Robles to pay a $25,000 fine. Judge Mannion also ordered the forfeiture of the ammunition and firearms seized during the investigation, which included:
- Magnum Research 1911U .45acp;
- Hi-Point JHP .45acp;
- Stag Arms STAG-15, .223 cal., which is capable of accepting a high capacity magazine;
- Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun;
- Norinco MAC90, 7.62x39, which is capable of accepting a high capacity magazine; and
- Tikka T3, 30.06.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Weatherly Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Phillip Caraballo and Todd Hinkley prosecuted 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 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 law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The case also was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States 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 to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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