PITTSBURGH - Two Pittsburgh residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The one-count indictment, returned on March 27, 2013, named Mark Lawson, 39, and Dacosta Lomax, 50.
According to the indictment, from December 2000, and continuing to March 2013, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, the Lawson and Lomax conspired with one another and with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan B. Ortiz is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Attorney General's Office, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Allegheny County District Attorney's Narcotics Enforcement Team conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
