PITTSBURGH, Pa. - On Jan. 7, a resident of Houston, Texas, was sentenced in federal court to 240 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics and money laundering laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Alan N. Bloch imposed the sentence on Vincent D. Middlebrooks, 40.
According to information presented to the court, from on or about Dec. 4, 2009, and continuing thereafter to on or about Sept. 29, 2011, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Middlebrooks conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Additionally, during the same time period, Middlebrooks conspired with others to launder money.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bloch stated that the sentence was based, in part, on the "enormous scope" of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine A. King and Troy Rivetti prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of members drawn from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and the Beaver Falls Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Middlebrooks.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys