PITTSBURGH – In a stunning turn of events, Denver Sangster, the alleged kingpin of a local drug ring, was found guilty after a federal jury deliberated for two hours. United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today that the 43-year-old Pittsburgh man faces life in prison after being convicted of Possession with the Intent to Deliver More than 280 Grams of Crack Cocaine, along with quantities of cocaine and marijuana. Additionally, Sangster was found guilty of Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.
Sangster’s trial took place before United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone in Pittsburgh. Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Brian Czarnecki presented evidence that on March 30, 2016, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police executed a search warrant at Sangster’s residence, uncovering approximately 340 grams of crack cocaine, 150 grams of powdered cocaine, over nine kilograms of marijuana, and four loaded firearms.
Judge Cercone has scheduled sentencing for October 1, 2019. Under federal law, the sentence could range from 15 years to life in prison, depending on Sangster’s criminal history and the severity of the charges. The investigation leading to Sangster’s prosecution was a collaborative effort between the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
This conviction is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through evidence-based programs. PSN focuses on identifying and targeting the most violent offenders in a community, while also collaborating with local prevention and reentry programs for long-term crime reduction.
Under PSN, law enforcement agencies work together to address the root causes of violence and develop comprehensive solutions that include enforcement efforts against the worst offenders. The partnership between police and ATF is expected to contribute to lasting reductions in crime within Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods.
Related Federal Cases
- Laforte’s Empire Crumbles: Drug Kingpin Laid to Rest · Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Felon Charles Howard III Faces Federal Gun & Drug Charges · Pennsylvania
- Blairsville Drug Kingpin Pleads Guilty to Heroin Conspiracy · Pennsylvania
- Detroit Drug Kingpin Pleads Guilty in Heroin Distribution · Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Duo Indicted in Decade-Long Cocaine Ring · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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