Pittsburgh Man Indicted in Major Fentanyl Conspiracy

PITTSBURGH – Lewis Lamont Johnson, 35, of Pittsburgh, is facing serious federal charges after being named in a three-count indictment returned by a grand jury on March 13th, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. The charges stem from a drug trafficking operation involving a significant quantity of the deadly opioid fentanyl.

According to court documents, Johnson allegedly conspired with others between September 22, 2017, and October 11, 2017, to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a staggering 400 grams or more of fentanyl, along with acetyl fentanyl. This isn’t small-time dealing; we’re talking about a volume of narcotics capable of inflicting widespread harm.

The indictment doesn’t stop there. It further alleges that on October 11, 2017, Johnson possessed with intent to distribute another 400 grams or more of fentanyl. And as if that weren’t enough, he’s also accused of attempting to possess with intent to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl – a clear indication of ongoing criminal activity.

If convicted, Johnson is looking at a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison, with the possibility of a life sentence. He also faces a potential fine of $10,000,000.00. However, the actual sentence will be determined based on the severity of the crimes and any prior criminal record he may have. The feds aren’t messing around with fentanyl cases, and rightly so.

The investigation, a joint effort by multiple federal agencies – including the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration – brought this case to light. Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is leading the prosecution.

It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is simply an accusation. Johnson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the evidence presented suggests a serious threat to the community, and Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds. This is just the latest example of the relentless opioid crisis gripping the nation, and the lengths to which criminals will go to profit from addiction.

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