Luzerne County Brothers Sentenced on Drug Trafficking Conspiracy (DOJ)

SCRANTON, The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Akilees Kadeem Hobson, age 27, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, and Armand Kierran Hobson, age 28, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, were sentenced on February 10, 2026, by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Akilees Hobson was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment and Armand Hobson was sentenced to time served after being incarcerated since September 25, 2024.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in August and September 2024, the brothers conspired to distribute fentanyl. On fourteen occasions, Akilees Hobson sold drugs, which included fentanyl and crack cocaine, to a confidential informant. At the time, Akilees Hobson was on federal supervised release for previous conviction charging him with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in 2017. On one occasion, Armand Hobson sold fentanyl to a confidential informant. On September 25, 2024, search warrants were executed at their residences and additional drugs were seized. In total, Akilees Hobson was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 27 grams of fentanyl and 39 grams of crack cocaine. Armand Hobson was responsible for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute at least 4 grams but less than 8 grams of fentanyl and less than a kilogram of marijuana.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kingston Police Department and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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