PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Tre Robert Goins, 31, of Donora, Pennsylvania, is staring down a potential life sentence after a federal jury found him guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on August 27, 2025. The conviction follows a harrowing high-speed chase and the discovery of a cocktail of illegal substances and a stolen weapon.
The trial, presided over by Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti, laid bare the details of Goins’ desperate attempt to evade law enforcement. On May 24, 2024, officers with the City of Duquesne Police Department initiated a traffic stop that quickly escalated into a reckless pursuit. Goins allegedly floored it, exceeding 100 mph before ultimately crashing his vehicle. It wasn’t a simple wreck; authorities recovered fentanyl, cocaine, and a loaded, stolen firearm from the wreckage. The jury didn’t buy Goins’ silence, concluding the gun was directly linked to his drug dealing operation.
This conviction isn’t Goins’ only legal trouble. He already pleaded guilty in July 2025 to two additional charges stemming from the same incident: possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. These charges carry a combined potential sentence of up to 20 years, a $1 million fine, or both. However, the firearm charge specifically adds a minimum five-year sentence, potentially escalating to life, to be served consecutively to any sentence he receives for the drug offenses, alongside a potential $250,000 fine.
Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti didn’t mince words following the verdict. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations and holding accountable those who endanger our communities by illegally possessing firearms,” he stated. The actual sentence handed down will be determined by federal Sentencing Guidelines, taking into account the severity of the crimes and Goins’ prior criminal record – a record that undoubtedly paints a bleak picture.
The investigation was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and supported by the police departments of Clairton, Duquesne, and Elizabeth Township. This prosecution is a key component of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through a multi-faceted approach involving law enforcement and community engagement. The program emphasizes building trust, supporting community organizations, and focusing enforcement efforts on the most pressing threats.
Judge Conti has scheduled Goins’ sentencing hearing for October 22, 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly M. Locher and Katherine C. Jordan are prosecuting the case, and are likely to push for the maximum sentence allowable under the law. For Goins, the reckless pursuit didn’t just end in a wrecked car – it likely ended his freedom.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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