PITTSBURGH - A Westmoreland County resident pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violations of federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Michael Jones, 25, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that between January 2011, and September 2013, Jones conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. In addition, the court was advised that on Feb. 26, 2014, Jones, having previously been convicted of a felony offense, was in possession of five firearms, two of which were stolen, and one of which had an obliterated serial number.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for Nov. 8, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, 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 Attorneys Katherine A. King and Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
A task force led by the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case. The task force also included several other federal, state, and local agencies from multiple states, including the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department, the Monroeville Police Department, and the McKees Rocks Police Department. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
