PITTSBURGH, PA – Richard Brown, 32, of Washington, Pennsylvania, is staring down the barrel of a potential life sentence after admitting to a double-dip of criminal activity: pushing crack cocaine and illegally possessing a firearm. The guilty plea, entered Tuesday, May 28, 2013, in federal court, marks a significant step toward accountability for a man already carrying the weight of prior felony convictions.
According to court documents, Brown peddled crack cocaine on two separate occasions in August and September 18, 2009. He didn’t just deal – he possessed with intent to distribute, indicating a calculated effort to profit from the misery of others. Simultaneously, in August 2009, Brown was found to be in possession of a firearm, a clear violation of federal law.
Federal statutes are blunt on this point: anyone convicted of a felony carrying a sentence exceeding one year is barred from owning a firearm. Brown’s prior record made the gun charge particularly damning. This wasn’t a first offense; it was a calculated risk by a repeat offender who clearly disregarded the law. The combination of drugs and weapons painted a dangerous picture, one that U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton wasn’t willing to ignore.
Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose accepted Brown’s guilty plea on three counts: two narcotics charges and one firearms charge. The sentencing date is set for September 18, 2013, at 10 a.m. The potential penalty? A chilling 15 years to life in prison, alongside a hefty fine of up to $4,250,000. While the guidelines provide a range, the final sentence will hinge on the severity of the crimes and Brown’s criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. Rosen is leading the prosecution, underscoring the government’s commitment to tackling both drug trafficking and gun violence. This case is a key component of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative uniting federal, state, and local agencies to combat gun crime and build safer communities.
The investigation that brought Brown to justice was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Their work serves as a stark reminder that those who choose to operate outside the law will be pursued relentlessly, and that the consequences for combining drugs and firearms are severe. This case sends a clear message: in Western Pennsylvania, the Grimy Times will continue to report on those who threaten the safety of our communities.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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