Two residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, have pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Angel Diaz-Gibson, 34, and Kayla Rickenbach, 24, entered their guilty pleas separately before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines on January 5, 2026.
According to information presented during the plea hearings, between June and August 2024 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Diaz-Gibson and Rickenbach conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 40 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl. Diaz-Gibson also admitted conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. Rickenbach admitted conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Both defendants also pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute significant quantities of these drugs: Diaz-Gibson in July 2024 and Rickenbach in August 2024.
Sentencing for Diaz-Gibson is set for May 4, 2026; sentencing for Rickenbach is scheduled for May 5, 2026. Rickenbach faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum of forty years in prison and a fine that could reach $5 million. Diaz-Gibson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years up to life imprisonment as well as a possible $20 million fine. Sentences will be determined according to federal guidelines that take into account the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency along with the Pennsylvania State Police.
