ELWOOD CITY MAN FOUND GUILTY OF FIREARMS VIOLATION IN A NON-JURY TRIAL
United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, November 14, 2008, that on November 10, 2008 a non-jury trial was held which resulted in the court finding Donald Orgovan, Jr. guilty of one count of violating federal firearm laws.
Orgovan, age 34, was tried before Senior United States District Judge Alan N. Bloch in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that, on September 2, 2005, Pennsylvania State Troopers executed a search warrant and found Orgovan in possession of over one kilogram of cocaine, more than $32,000 in cash, and two loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistols which he possessed in furtherance of his cocaine dealing. The evidence showed that Orgovan had previously sold multiple kilograms of cocaine between January and September of 2005. Orgovan previously pleaded guilty to the drug charge, on September 3, 2008, but requested a trial on the remaining count.
Judge Bloch scheduled sentencing for January 8, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $2,250,000.00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Orgovan.
According to Ms. Buchanan, this case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter, and prosecute gun crime.
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