A Harrisburg man who traded drugs for stolen firearms in State College has been sentenced to more than twelve years in prison.
According to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Azim Showell, 25, was convicted by a jury convicted in May for trafficking heroin and cocaine. Showell was at the center of a group of men who brought the drugs from Harrisburg to State College, which they distributed from motel and hotel rooms.
Showell was arrested back in February 2012 in Fairview Township in York County. In the trunk of Showell’s rental car, police reportedly found two stolen guns, bundles of heroin packaged for sale and $10,000 in cash. He was brought up on federal charges of drug trafficking, conspiracy and firearm offenses, according to the news release.
An investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police led authorities to believe that many of Showell’s customer had burglarized homes for firearms to trade for drugs. Drug users, police and break-in victims all testified at the four-day-long trial.
Between May and June, several other men arrested for helping Showell traffic drugs between State College and Harrisburg were also convicted and sentenced, according to the news release. One conspirator — Dawan Maynard, 41, of Harrsiburg — was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for his role in the drug trafficking ring. Fareed Ray, who was arrested the same month as Showell, awaits sentencing for related charges.
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