PITTSBURGH, PA – Courtney Washington Jr., 31, of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, is headed to federal prison for over two decades after being sentenced to 248 months – that’s 20 years and 8 months – followed by six months of supervised release. The sentence comes after a federal jury convicted Washington of violating federal firearms laws in September 2024, and a prior guilty plea to charges related to the distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The case unfolded after law enforcement executed a search warrant at Washington’s residence on April 17, 2023. According to court documents, Washington wasn’t exactly cooperative. As officers moved in, he made a desperate, and ultimately failed, attempt to flush approximately $45,000 worth of fentanyl down the drain… by shoving it into a washing machine. It didn’t work.
But the drugs weren’t the only illegal items hidden within the home. Just six feet from the washing machine, officers discovered a loaded .45 Glock handgun stashed in the rafters. The weapon, it turned out, was stolen. And for Washington, the discovery was particularly damning. A previous federal drug trafficking conviction already stripped him of the right to possess firearms or ammunition.
Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti didn’t mince words, announcing the sentence and highlighting the severity of Washington’s crimes. “This defendant engaged in large-scale fentanyl trafficking, endangering our communities,” Rivetti stated. “He then compounded his crimes by illegally possessing a firearm.” The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and V. Joseph Sonson.
The bust and subsequent prosecution were a collaborative effort. Rivetti specifically commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Duquesne Police Department for their work in building the case against Washington. The investigation served as a stark reminder of the continued flow of deadly fentanyl into the region and the commitment of federal and local authorities to disrupt the supply.
Washington’s 248-month sentence sends a clear message: dealing fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms comes with a heavy price. He’ll have plenty of time to reflect on that while serving his lengthy sentence, a sentence that aims to keep both the drugs and the guns off the streets of Western Pennsylvania.
Related Federal Cases
- Elmira Kingpin Washington Gets 135 Months for Fentanyl Deaths · North Carolina
- Duquesne Felon Washington Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Arms & Fentanyl Trafficking · Washington
- Harrisburg Drug Kingpin David Washington Faces Federal Charges · Washington
- Washington Man Caught with 91 Grams of Fentanyl, Loaded Gun at Arlington Mall · Washington
- Pittsburgh Man Gets 2 Years for Bomb Threat Hoax · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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