Homestead Man Charged With Possessing BZP
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Homestead, Pa., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug and firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The five-count superceding indictment, returned on Oct. 4, named Vernon Dominguez, 26, as the sole defendant.
According to the superseding indictment presented to the court, on four separate dates Dominguez possessed with intent to distribute and/or distributed benzylpiperazine, commonly known as BZP, as well as possessed a firearm in relation to one of those incidents on July 27, 2011.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 85 years in prison, a fine of $2,500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to the superseding indictment in this case.
A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
