Houtzdale Woman Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking

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A Houtzdale, Pennsylvania resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, as announced today by United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan.

Joanna Shylock, 36, admitted guilt to Count Two of the Superseding Indictment during her appearance before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.

According to court records, between March 2020 and April 2020, Shylock conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Federal wiretaps revealed Shylock obtaining and distributing quantities of the drug.

Judge Gibson has set the sentencing date for January 22, 2025. Shylock faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. The actual sentence will be determined based on the severity of the offense and Shylock's prior criminal history, if any, under federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The investigation leading to Shylock's prosecution was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police, with additional support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF's mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement.