Luzerne County Man Sentenced To 136 Months In Prison For Drug Trafficking And Possession Of Firearms In Furtherance Of Drug Trafficking (DOJ)

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Charles Vincent Benincasa, age 41, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 12, 2024, to 136 months' imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on July 19, 2023, Benincasa distributed cocaine out of his home in Kingston. Two days later, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant on that same home. Task Force Members discovered distribution amounts of cocaine, marijuana and fentanyl, and in total, nearly $15,000 dollars in cash. Benincasa was also in possession of one thousand rounds of ammunition and six firearms, to include multiple handguns and rifles. Two firearms bore no serial numbers, commonly known as untraceable "ghost guns." At least one of the unserialized firearms was an AR-15 style short-barrel rife. One handgun had an extended 31-round magazine.

The case was investigated by the Luzerne County Drug Task Force together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti 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.

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The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is a term of life imprisonment, 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.

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