Two Altoona Residents Plead Guilty To Methamphetamine Trafficking
Sunday, January 19, 2025, 7:10 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
JOHNSTOWN, PA.- On Tuesday, two Altoona, Pennsylvania, residents entered guilty pleas in connection with the distribution of methamphetamine in the Western District of Pennsylvania, specifically throughout Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Clearfield counties.
According to U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Tonya Settlemyer, 39, and Andrew Stowell, 67, both of Altoona, Pennsylvania, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie L. Haines to drug trafficking-related charges.
Settlemyer pleaded guilty before Judge Haines to one count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Methamphetamine, while Stowell pleaded guilty before Judge Haines to one count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and one count Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine.
Following entering their guilty pleas on Tuesday, Judge Haines scheduled Settlemyer and Stowell to be sentenced on May 15, 2025, at which time Settlemyer could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine or both. Stowell faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a fine of $10 million or both. At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offenses and Settlemyer’s and Stowell’s prior criminal history.
According To The U.S. Attorney’s Office
According to documents filed with the District Court, during Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Haines was advised that during an ongoing narcotics trafficking investigation, Stowell sold a quantity of methamphetamine to an undercover officer on December 12, 2022. Judge Haines was also advised that Settlemyer assisted an Altoona-based narcotics dealer who distributed large amounts of methamphetamine to numerous individuals throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania.
