Beaver Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Deal Fentanyl

PITTSBURGH – A Beaver County resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating the federal drug laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Justin Clark, 34, of Beaver Falls, Pa., pleaded guilty on March 6 to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from in and around September 2016, and continuing until in and around July 2017, Clark conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. Clark has a prior felony drug-trafficking conviction and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties under federal law.

Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2018, at 11 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $8,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin A. Loughran is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This prosecution is part of a long-term investigation by the FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force (GPSSTF), which targeted a large scale Drug Trafficking Organization operating in Butler, Beaver and Allegheny Counties. The GPSSTF is comprised of dedicated law enforcement professionals from the Wilkinsburg Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the FBI. The GPSSTF and the United Sates Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, would like to recognize the significant contributions made to this investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, United Sates Postal Inspection Service, Cranberry Township Police Department and the New Brighton Police Department.