Carnegie Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months’ imprisonment and two years’ supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on James Yeates, 53.

According to information presented to the court, from in and around January, 2016, and continuing thereafter to on or about November 30, 2017, Yeates conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The Court was further advised that, on or about December 28, 2017, Yeates attempted to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca L. Silinski and Jeremy A. Moschetta prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of James Yeates. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. The Stowe Township Police Department also provided assistance in this investigation. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.