Scranton Reporter

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Emmanuel Batista, age 32, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 1, 2024, to 151 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion for drug trafficking charges.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Batista owned and operated DMB Dumpster and Construction Company in Scranton. Between November 2022 and January 2023, Batista used this company as a front for his drug distribution activities. Law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from a subordinate dealer working under Batista's direction. Additionally, Batista made significant quantities of methamphetamine available for purchase during this period. He utilized a vacant property he was allegedly remodeling as a stash house for his drugs and compensated some employees with narcotics. Over three months, Batista distributed more than 400 grams of fentanyl.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts and Senior Deputy Attorney General Michelle Hardik prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that unites various levels of law enforcement with communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence while enhancing neighborhood safety. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy under PSN based on fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence-prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

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