Indiana County drug dealer sentenced to up to 21 years in prison

INDIANA COUNTY, Pennsylvania. — District Attorney Bob Manzi announced on Friday, August 23, that the defendant Andrew Rankin36, of Ernest, was sentenced to up to 21 years in state prison.

Rankin pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a first-degree felony, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to traffic, a non-degree felony.

The Honorable Judge Michael T. Clark sentenced Rankin in this case to a term of imprisonment in a state penitentiary for a minimum of four and a half years to a maximum of twenty-one years. The sentence in this case is to be served consecutively to the sentence Rankin is already serving in another case involving possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The sentence will result in the defendant being under state supervision until he is sixty years old.

In this case, the victim wanted to purchase three stamp bags of controlled substances from the defendant. The defendant agrees to supply the narcotics for $40.00. Shortly after this conversation, the victim is found dead with three stamp bags of controlled substances. In other conversations, the defendant attempts to sell drugs to other people with a personal stamp on them. This stamp is the same one the victim found on the drugs.

“Today we are able to convict this defendant thanks to the diligent work of members of the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop A, Indiana. They combed through a large amount of evidence, linked multiple investigations together and built a promising indictment,” said Manzi. “Members of our state and local law enforcement agencies, along with our partners across Pennsylvania and federal authorities, are working hard to aggressively investigate and prosecute drug traffickers in Indiana County.”

“Our main message remains that drug dealers are not welcome in Indiana County,” Manzi said. “We hope they stop selling poison and take care of the things they have to do.”

If you or a loved one has a drug or alcohol problem, please call the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission at 1.877.333.2470. They can connect people with treatment services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.