Pittsburgh, Detroit men sentenced for drug trafficking

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four individuals, including three Michigan natives, were sentenced today for cocaine and oxycodone trafficking offenses, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Richard Speciale, 53, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was convicted and sentenced today for selling cocaine within the Northern District of West Virginia and the Western District of Pennsylvania. He pled guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Over Five (5) Kilograms of Cocaine,” following an investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was sentenced today to 144 months in prison.

Ryan Gardner, 28, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for selling oxycodone in November 2014 in Monongalia County, West Virginia. He pled guilty in March 2015 to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone,” following an investigation by the Mon Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Terrell Moore, 36, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for selling oxycodone in January 2015 in Monongalia County, West Virginia.  He pled guilty in March 2015 to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone,” following an investigation by the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.

Ronnie Days, 24, of Westland, Michigan, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for selling oxycodone in August 2014 in Monongalia County, West Virginia. He pled guilty in January 2015 to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone,” following an investigation by the Mon Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted Speciale, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan prosecuted Moore, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted Gardner and Days on behalf of the government.

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.