PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotic laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Brett Farrell, 31, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Maurice Cohill.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that from June 2011 to May, 2012, Farrell, acting together with others, created fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions on his home computer. Farrell then passed these fraudulent prescriptions at area pharmacies, from whom he obtained oxycodone, which is a Schedule II controlled substance. Farrell primarily obtained this oxycodone for personal use, but he also sold small quantities of oxycodone to other addicts.
Judge Cohill scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. Rosen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Brett Farrell.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
