A former resident of Homestead, Pennsylvania, Erik Addison, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges involving narcotics and firearms violations. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced that Addison, 28, agreed to a plea deal which includes a 35-year prison sentence.
Addison was charged with four counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. These charges include possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a machinegun, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The court learned that on May 8, 2023, law enforcement attempted to stop Addison's vehicle in Pittsburgh. Addison fled but was eventually detained and arrested. A police video showed him with a Glock 19 pistol equipped with an illegal conversion device known as a Glock switch. This device converts the weapon into a fully automatic machinegun. Officers recovered two cell phones, over $3,200 in cash, and car keys from Addison.
A search of his vehicle uncovered 28 bricks of fentanyl mixed with heroin and fentanyl, along with other items linked to drug trafficking. At the time of these offenses, Addison was under supervised release for a previous federal firearms conviction from 2021.
In addition to federal charges, Addison faces state charges related to his actions on May 8. While detained at Allegheny County Jail awaiting trial for these charges on October 2, he was found with ABD-Butanica—a synthetic cannabinoid classified as a Schedule I controlled substance.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti stated: “Erik Addison’s blatant disregard for the law by possessing a dangerous firearm in connection with illegal fentanyl trafficking while on federal supervised release for a prior conviction and then possessing another controlled substance while incarcerated on those charges demonstrates the need to have dangerous criminals like him off of our streets.”
Eric DeGree from ATF Philadelphia Field Division remarked: “Armed with fentanyl, heroin, and a pistol converted into a dangerous machinegun via an illegal ‘switch,’ this defendant was a deadly threat to his neighborhood.”
Allegheny County Police Superintendent Christopher Kearns expressed gratitude towards the U.S. Attorney’s Office for resolving the case: “These violent incidents leave a lasting impact throughout our community."
Judge Ranjan has scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2025. The most serious charge carries mandatory minimum imprisonment of five years up to life and fines up to $250,000.
Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas C. Maloney and Brendan T. Conway are handling the prosecution.
The investigation involved collaboration between several agencies including Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives under Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through community trust-building efforts strategic enforcement priorities among others.
