PITTSBURGH, PA - Three residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The ten-count Indictment named:
James Patrick Lewis, Jr., age 29;
Antoine Key, age 29; and
Lance Rucker, age 24.
According to the Indictment, from Sept. 21, 2020 to February 4, 2021, Lewis, Key and Rucker conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Also on February 4, 2021, Lewis, Key and Rucker, all convicted felons, were in possession of firearms, and that Rucker possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm. The indictment further alleges that Lewis, on March 10, June 10 and Sept. 17, 2020, possessed with intent to distribute and distributed 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Also, on Sept. 3, 2020, Lewis possessed with intent to distribute and distributed 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than life in prison, a fine of $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.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
