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Pittsburgh Heroin Kingpin Bacon Gets 25 Years
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Harold Bacon, 30, is trading the streets of Pittsburgh for a federal prison cell after receiving a 25-year sentence on April 9, 2013, for running a large-scale heroin operation. U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab handed down the sentence, followed by eight years of supervised release, effectively removing a major player from the city’s drug trade.
The bust began to unfold on January 18, 2010, when Pittsburgh Police detectives intercepted 18 bricks of heroin stashed inside Bacon’s rental car. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. From that date until his federal indictment and March 3, 2011 arrest, Bacon flooded the streets with a relentless supply of the deadly drug, acting as a primary source for other dealers desperate to feed the city’s addiction.
Bacon didn’t get his hands dirty directly. He employed a network of young “runners” to stash and distribute the heroin, shielding himself from direct exposure. He also utilized a female accomplice to haul hundreds of bricks of heroin into Pittsburgh from out-of-state sources – a classic move by a dealer looking to maximize profit and minimize risk.
The operation wasn’t limited to just narcotics. On June 17, 2010, Bacon was found to be in possession of a Desert Eagle .40 caliber pistol – a weapon obtained in exchange for heroin. He then attempted to quickly ditch the firearm, further cementing his ties to violent crime. The gun was intended to protect his operation, and his profits.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig W. Haller successfully prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Bacon based on evidence collected through a multi-agency investigation. U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton praised the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and several local law enforcement agencies including the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Ross Township Police, Canonsburg Police, and Allegheny County Police.
The conviction and sentencing of Harold Bacon sends a clear message: Pittsburgh’s streets are not open for drug trafficking. The combined forces of federal and local law enforcement are committed to dismantling these criminal networks and bringing those responsible to justice – even if it takes decades to do so. Bacon’s 25-year sentence is a significant win, but the fight against heroin continues.
RELATED: Pittsburgh Drug Kingpin Duane Scott Jailed for 5+ Years
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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