Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced For Heroin Distribution

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Five Others Appear for Pleas and Sentencing

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II,
announced that a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, resident was sentenced to prison as a result of his conviction on a heroin distribution charge.

ANDRE ABRAM, age 32, of Pittsburgh, was sentenced by Judge Irene M. Keeley, to 30 months in prison and six years of supervised release for “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin within 1,000 Feet of Koupal Towers.” The Court also ordered the forfeiture of $3,376 in United States currency which constitutes proceeds obtained from the illegal activity. ABRAM was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution. This case was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Shawn A. Morgan and investigated by the Greater Harrison County Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, consisting of officers and agents from the Clarksburg Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Investigative support for the task force is provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

ANTHONY LUCAS, age 24, an inmate at USP Hazelton was sentenced by Judge Keeley to an additional year in prison to run consecutive to his current 36-month sentence for “Possession of a Homemade Weapon” when staff at the institution searched LUCAS and found a homemade weapon or shank in his sock. The weapon was 8 1/2 inch long piece of metal sharpened to a point.

ALBERT MEIER, age 24, an inmate at USP Hazelton, was sentenced by Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull to three months in prison to run consecutive with his current 60-month sentence for “Possession of a Prohibited Object” on February 16, 2013, when staff observed MEIER talking on a cellphone and confiscated same.

These cases were investigated by the Special Investigative Services Staff at USP Hazelton.

ERIC ROBINSON, age 39, an inmate at FCI Gilmer entered a plea of guilty before Judge Keeley to “Possession of Marijuana” and was sentenced to four months in prison, to run consecutive with his current 48-month sentence. This case was investigated by the Special Investigative Services Staff at FCI Gilmer.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower.

LINDA BLAND, age 46, of Fairmont, West Virginia, and JANET POSEY, age 63, of Clarksburg, entered pleas of guilty, before Magistrate Judge Kaull, to “Receipt and Concealment of Embezzled Funds on Federal Property.” BLAND and POSEY, who are free on bond pending sentencing face up to 1 year in prison. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar and were investigated by the Department of Labor-Management Standards.