Roderick Ferguson, Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2019

Grimy Times Exclusive

Roderick Ferguson, a 19-year-old resident of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to drug trafficking, marking a significant blow to the South Side gang’s distribution network. According to United States Attorney Scott W. Brady, Ferguson’s guilty plea was part of a large-scale investigation conducted by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force.

The investigation, which began in 2017, targeted the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang and its drug-trafficking activity in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of this operation, a federal wire investigation was conducted from February to June 2019, during which intercepted communications revealed Ferguson’s involvement as a drug runner for his co-defendant, Christopher Highsmith.

Highsmith is among the leaders of the drug trafficking organization. As a condition of the guilty plea, Ferguson accepted responsibility for the distribution of 15 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin in the Pittsburgh area. Law enforcement seized a Sig Sauer firearm and ammunition during the execution of a search warrant at Ferguson’s residence on West Warrington Avenue in Pittsburgh on June 20, 2019.

Judge William S. Stickman IV scheduled sentencing for October 15, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Ferguson is currently on bond pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force’s investigation has led to the charging of 36 defendants, including Ferguson, in connection with the Indictment. This case highlights the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking in the Pittsburgh area and the efforts of law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle these organizations.

As Grimy Times continues to investigate and report on the complex web of crime and corruption in our communities, we remain committed to shedding light on the truth and holding those accountable for their actions.

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