Dana Penney, Drug Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2017

Aliquippa man pleads guilty to drug and firearms charges in 2017 and 2018, a multi-agency investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has revealed.

PITTSBURGH – Dana Penney, a 41-year-old resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to firearm and drug trafficking crimes before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. The sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

Penney was charged with three crimes: (1) conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substances; (2) possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine; and (3) brandishing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

The law provides for a sentence of at least seven years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $4,250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is to be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The investigation was a multi-agency effort involving the DEA, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, as well as other local and federal agencies.

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.

Penney, a resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, faces a significant sentence for his crimes. The maximum penalty for the charges against him is up to life in prison and a fine of up to $4,250,000. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines will play a significant role in determining the actual sentence imposed.

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