PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Daniel Espy, age 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, furanyl fentanyl, and fentanyl, and possession with the intent to distribute heroin before United States District Judge Marilyn S. Horan. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for Feb. 18, 2020. The defendant was detained after his initial appearance in federal court and will remain detained pending sentencing.
According to information presented to the court, from November 2016 to April 2017, Espy conspired with other individuals to acquire heroin to distribute in Allegheny County. On March 3, 2017, during an investigation by City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Narcotics and Vice Division and the DEA, investigators stopped Espy in a car in which a mixture of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues was recovered. On April 4, 2017, investigators recovered a large amount of heroin from a stash location used by Espy and other co-conspirators in the City of Pittsburgh. Laboratory testing revealed that the packaging for that heroin contained Espy’s fingerprints.
Espy faces a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of not more than $2,000,000, 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 Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police - Narcotics and Vice Division, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the plea in this case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
