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Pittsburgh Felon Pleads to Fentanyl, Cocaine Charges
A Pittsburgh resident, Ronell Cathie, 31, has pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with the intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan on July 16, 2025. Cathie’s crimes date back to March 2024 and July 2024, during which he participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, both Schedule II controlled substances.
On July 19, 2024, law enforcement recovered a stolen firearm, a magazine, and ammunition during the execution of a search warrant at Cathie’s residence. Cathie has multiple prior felony convictions for firearms, making him subject to federal law prohibiting possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Cathie faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. The actual sentence will be determined by the seriousness of the offenses and Cathie’s prior criminal history under the federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Pending sentencing, Cathie will remain in custody. Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Kelly M. Locher are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to Cathie’s prosecution.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which targets high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations threatening the United States.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Organized Crime|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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