West Mifflin Man Admits Fentanyl Distribution

James Kadish, 27, of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, stood before a federal judge and admitted to dealing poison on Pittsburgh streets. Kadish pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times deadlier than heroin, according to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady.

The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge David Cercone in Pittsburgh. Kadish admitted to buying a stash of fentanyl from co-defendant Devon Robinson on December 3, 2018. Within hours, he turned around and pushed the lethal drug to at least two others—putting lives at risk for profit.

Authorities moved fast. On December 4, 2017, FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers raided Kadish’s West Mifflin home and seized the remaining fentanyl supply. The bust came less than 24 hours after his second known distribution, cutting short a deadly pipeline before more could die.

Sentencing is set for July 23, 2018. The law allows for a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars, a $1,000,000 fine, or both. Under federal guidelines, the final sentence will hinge on the severity of the crimes and Kadish’s prior criminal record—if any exists.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is handling the prosecution. The case was built by the FBI’s Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force, a multi-agency unit dedicated to choking off the flow of opioids in one of America’s hardest-hit regions.

The Task Force includes FBI agents and officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department, Allegheny County Police, Port Authority Police, Munhall Police, West Mifflin Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. The collaboration underscores the federal crackdown on opioid traffickers exploiting communities in crisis.

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