Date: Jan. 14, 2025 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Johnstown, PA — Two residents of Altoona, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of narcotics trafficking related to a six-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Clearfield counties, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Tonya Settlemyer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine, while Andrew Stowell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Both pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines. In connection with the guilty pleas, the Court was advised that Stowell sold a quantity of methamphetamine to an undercover officer on Dec. 12, 2022. The Court was also advised that Settlemyer assisted an Altoona-based narcotics dealer who distributed large quantities of methamphetamine to various individuals throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for both defendants for May 15, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, or both for Settlemyer and not less than 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both for Stowell. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Court ordered that Settlemyer remain detained and Stowell remain on bond pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of the case, which also included the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multiagency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a more than a 90 percent federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S. and 12 attaché posts abroad.
