PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today
Rondell Lawrence, age 29, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge David Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on July 10, 2017, Rondell Lawrence drove his brother and co-defendant, Ronnell Lawrence, to the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Pittsburgh. Ronnell Lawrence then boarded a bus bound for New York City. Ronnell Lawrence returned to Pittsburgh after spending only one hour in New York City. On July 11, 2017, Rondell Lawrence returned to the Greyhound Bus Station to pick up his brother. Investigators observed Ronnell putting a large camouflage backpack into the back of the Nissan Pathfinder. Investigators later stopped the Nissan Pathfinder for having an expired registration. A subsequent search of the vehicle and the camouflage bag placed there by Ronnell revealed eight large bundles of suspected heroin and fentanyl and a bus ticket to New York City. The Drug Enforcement Agency Laboratory later tested the substances seized from the bag and revealed that the substances were approximately 390 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for December 6, 2018. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years in prison and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, 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. Rondell Lawrence has been detained in federal custody and will remain detained pending sentencing. The case against Ronnell Lawrence is pending.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Narcotics Enforcement Team (DANET), Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and North Versailles Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
