SCRANTON, PA — A federal judge has sentenced the leader of a massive drug trafficking network that funneled lethal fentanyl from Mexican cartels into the streets of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Shane Burns, 26, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to 168 months (14 years) in prison. Following his term, Burns will serve five years of supervised release.
Burns was identified as the central figure in a conspiracy involving 15 individuals indicted in February 2023. According to federal prosecutors, Burns utilized high-level connections with Mexican cartels to source large quantities of fentanyl pills. He then orchestrated the distribution of these pills across a wide network including Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and other regional hubs.
Evidence presented during the investigation showed:
The Scale: The conspiracy was responsible for distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
The Connection: Burns acted as a primary bridge between international cartel sources and local distributors.
The Operation: The pills were frequently sent through the mail and coordinated via encrypted communication and digital payment apps.
The case was the result of a joint effort by the FBI, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department.
