PITTSBURGH - A former resident of McDonald, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal firearm and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Mackenzie Cole Roberts, 26, pleaded guilty to six counts before Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on March 13, 2016, the defendant possessed heroin and a loaded.38 special caliber derringer pistol. Roberts was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a result of his heroin use.
On Dec. 23, 2016, the defendant sold stamp bags containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl which caused the death of M.P.C. On January 5, 2017, the defendant was arrested with nine stamp bags of fentanyl that he intended to sell, and police then located several stamp bags and drug paraphernalia in his residence.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of 81 years in prison, a fine of up to $3,501,000, 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.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded the defendant to jail.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Agency conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mackenzie Cole Roberts with the valuable assistance of the McDonald Police Department, the Canonsburg Police Department, the Washington County Coroner, the McDonald Fire Department, and the Fort Cherry Ambulance 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
