A third Reading resident has been sentenced to federal prison for involvement in a drug-trafficking ring based in Berks County.
John Rickenbach Jr., 44, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie L. Haines in Johnstown to 10 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Rickenbach pleaded guilty in January to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Officials said that from June to August 2024 Rickenbach distributed and possessed with intent to distribute and conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Two others in the ring, Angel Diaz-Gibson Jr., 34, and Kayla Rickenbach, 24, previously were sentenced after pleading guilty.
Federal officials did not describe the relationship between John Rickenbach and Kayla Rickenbach, but other media reports, citing law enforcement, indicated they are father and daughter.
Diaz-Gibson was sentenced May 4 by Haines to 262 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Kayla Rickenbach was sentenced May 12 by Haines to 7 ½ years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. She also pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to court documents:
State police in March 2024 began investigating Diaz-Gibson, who at that time was on federal supervision for a drug conviction in the Southern District of West Virginia, to establish that he was a large-scale methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficker based in Berks County.
Investigators identified John Rickenbach, Kayla Rickenbach and a third person as conspirators with Diaz-Gibson and each other to distribute drugs, including in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
A trooper stopped Diaz-Gibson in July 2024 in Bedford for having a suspended vehicle registration and noticed a strong odor of marijuana.
Diaz-Gibson admitted having a blunt of marijuana, and he and Kayla Rickenbach, who was a passenger, consented to a search of the vehicle.
Investigators found 334 grams of meth behind the glove box and 48 grams of fentanyl under the center console and arrested Diaz-Gibson. Three cellphones, one believed to belong to Kayla Rickenbach, also were seized.
While jailed, Diaz-Gibson directed Kayla Rickenbach and the third co-conspirator to continue his drug trafficking.
Diaz-Gibson arranged for Kayla Rickenbach to conduct drug deliveries, money pickups, and directed her to their drug supplier.
Kayla Rickenbach recruited John Rickenbach, who became more involved and would routinely report to Diaz-Gibson what distributors owed.
On Aug. 12, 2024, John Rickenbach and Kayla Rickenbach delivered drugs to the third co-conspirator.
The following day, state police searched the third conspirator’s residence in Claysburg, Blair County, and seized 215 grams of meth, a scale, drug-packaging material, records and money.
On Aug. 24, 2024, law enforcement in Berks conducted surveillance on Kayla Rickenbach and John Rickenbach based on communications with Gibson-Diaz.
Officers saw John Rickenbach accessing Gibson-Diaz’s car, where officers believed drugs were stashed.
That same day, troopers stopped a vehicle driven by John Rickenbach in Bedford County. Kayla Rickenbach was a passenger in the vehicle.
After consenting to a search of the vehicle, troopers seized two plastic bags containing 444 grams of methamphetamine and 138 grams of fentanyl zip-tied to the vehicle’s spare tire. They also seized marijuana, money and four cellphones.
The Rickenbach residence was searched and investigators seized more methamphetamine, fentanyl and money.