PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 26, 2019, in federal court to felony drug trafficking charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Nathaniel Smiley, age 39, pleaded guilty to charges from two separate incidents before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Smiley was on federal Supervised Release after serving his prior federal prison sentence of 100 months for the illegal possession of a firearm, when, on Dec. 19, 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration purchased 500 stamp bags, containing 9.2 grams of heroin, from Smiley. A search warrant was executed at his residence that day and $11,999 in cash was recovered.
On April 2, 2017, Smiley was apprehended. Two-hundred stamp bags containing 4.108 grams of fentanyl and 20.143 grams of powder cocaine were seized from his rental vehicle.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2019 at 11 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 60 years in prison, a fine of up to $4,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
The court ordered Smiley’s continued detention pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The DEA conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Smiley, with the valuable assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police and officers from multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
