Source: United States Department of Justice News
PITTSBURGH, PA — A resident of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years’ imprisonment and six years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Michael Schmidt, age 26, formerly of New Castle, Pennsylvania 16101.
According to information presented to the court, On Oct. 12, 2017, Schmidt possessed with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possessed a Taurus, Model PT738, .380 caliber pistol and ammunition as a convicted felon. It is prohibited under federal law to possess a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The fentanyl and firearm were found when law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Castle Police Department, the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Schmidt.