Two men from the Pittsburgh area are facing serious charges for their alleged involvement in a fentanyl distribution scheme. Edjuan Jackson, 28, of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and Anthony Ptomey, 26, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for their roles in the crime.
According to the indictment, Jackson and Ptomey are charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute a quantity of fentanyl between March 1, 2017, and March 30, 2017. Jackson is also individually charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 30, 2017, and with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on the same date.
Ptomey is charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl on April 17, 2017. The indictment alleges that the defendants were involved in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in the Pittsburgh area.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Jackson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both for the drug charges. The firearms charge carries a maximum sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
Ptomey faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. The actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The case is a reminder of the ongoing opioid epidemic and the need for law enforcement to crack down on those involved in fentanyl distribution. The Pittsburgh area has been particularly hard hit by the opioid crisis, and this case is a step towards holding those responsible accountable.
For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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