PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded responsible in federal court docket to at least one depend of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a amount of cocaine, United States Lawyer Eric G. Olshan introduced right now.
James Stewart, 44, pleaded responsible on April 16, 2024, to at least one depend earlier than U.S. District Choose Robert J. Colville.
In reference to the responsible plea, the Court docket was suggested {that a} long-term investigation into drug trafficking and unlawful firearms exercise within the Western District of Pennsylvania involving, amongst others, Anthony Peluso, a heroin and cocaine trafficker who equipped narcotics to low-level drug sellers, recognized Stewart as one among Peluso's shoppers. This included Stewart assembly with Peluso or his associates on a number of events to acquire cocaine that Stewart then redistributed to others. The investigation was carried out by the Larger Pittsburgh Protected Streets Job Drive, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Choose Colville scheduled sentencing for August 15, 2024. The legislation gives for a complete most penalty of as much as 20 years in jail, a effective of as much as $1 million, or each. Beneath the federal Sentencing Tips, the precise sentence imposed will likely be primarily based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior legal historical past, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca L. Silinski and Jonathan D. Lusty are prosecuting this case on behalf of the federal government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which additionally included the USA Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Marshals Fugitive Job Drive of the USA, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Workplace, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pittsburgh Police Bureau, and the Pennsylvania Workplace of Lawyer Normal Bureau of Narcotics Investigations. Different aiding businesses included the Allegheny County Police Division, Baldwin Police Division, Brentwood Police Division, McKees Rocks Police Division, Stowe Township Police Division and the West Deer Township.
This prosecution is a part of an OCDETF (Job Forces Organized Crime Drug Enforcement) investigation. The OECDTF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, cash launderers, gangs and transnational legal organizations that threaten the USA utilizing a prosecutor-led, multi-agency method intelligence, which leverages the strengths of the federal authorities, state and native legislation enforcement businesses in opposition to legal networks.
