Sharon Resident Sentenced for Fentanyl Conspiracy

A former resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. James West, 48, was handed down the sentence by United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon on January 17, 2024.

West pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute at least four grams of fentanyl between 2020 and 2021 in Mercer County. The guilty plea was a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. The prosecution was a result of a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pennsylvania State Police.

United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan commended the agencies involved in the investigation, stating that their work led to the successful prosecution of West.

The prosecution of West is a prime example of the OCDETF’s mission to disrupt and dismantle high-level drug traffickers and their networks. The OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime.

West will serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. The sentence handed down by Judge Bissoon is a significant blow to those involved in the fentanyl trade and serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in such activity.

For more information on this case, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

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