PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Vaughn James Malone, age 34, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA 15212, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about Aug. 26, 2020, Malone possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and methamphetamine. The Indictment also alleges that on or about Aug. 26, 2020, the defendant possessed a firearm in furtherance of this drug trafficking crime. Malone, a convicted felon, is prohibited by Federal law from possessing a firearm.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Ann Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Allegheny County Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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
