News Releases

Reading man charged with drug and weapons crimes
ICE gang group works with local DA's office to arrest dangerous criminals

READING, Pa. - Jean Joseph, a/k/a "Shaka," of Reading, was charged in a five-count indictment with drug and weapons offenses on October 6 as a result of an investigation led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The indictment charges Joseph with one count of distribution of cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base ("crack"), one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, between October of 2009 and January of 2010.

If convicted the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 months imprisonment, six years up to lifetime supervised release, and a $6.5 million fine.

ICE HSI worked with the Berks County District Attorney's Office and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carrillo.