Pittsburgh Store Owner Gets 10 Years for Cocaine Conspiracy
A Pittsburgh store owner has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a cocaine conspiracy, federal authorities announced today.
Willie Harris, 42, was sentenced in federal court to 120 months’ imprisonment for his conviction of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman.
The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, revealed that Harris conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine out of his retail convenience store, Woogie’s Market, located at 3038 Chartiers Ave. in the West End of the city.
The investigation, which began in 2017, targeted extensive drug trafficking in and around the Greenway Projects area of the city and used wiretaps to gather evidence against Harris and other suspects.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Harris, saying it was sufficient but not greater than necessary to comply with the goals of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Sulia Goodman and Yvonne M. Saadi prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Kaufman commended the law enforcement agencies that participated in the investigation, including the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and several others.
The case was a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level drug traffickers and other transnational criminal organizations.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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