A Palmerton man has been sentenced to state prison on drug trafficking and gun charges.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that James Scott McMurray, 44, was sentenced Friday to 137 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for possession of 111 grams of methamphetamine for distribution and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on Jan. 5, 2025, the Pennsylvania State Police initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that McMurray was operating.

McMurray was determined to be under the influence of multiple controlled substances. Officers searched McMurray’s vehicle and discovered the methamphetamine, a loaded handgun, a rifle, a firearm laser, a ballistics vest with a “police” label, 150 rounds of ammunition and multiple items of drug trafficking paraphernalia.

McMurray is legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions.

McMurray has 17 prior convictions which include, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal solicitation, access device fraud, forgery, possessing instruments of crime, conspiracy to commit burglary, interference with custody of a minor, and escape.

At the time of this offense McMurray was out on bail for pending firearm, drug trafficking and theft charges in Carbon County Court of Common Pleas.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police.