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Press Release

Carrick Woman With Six Felony Drug Convictions To Spend 15 Years In Prison For Illegally Possessing Loaded Pistol

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday, July 10, 2014, to 180 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release on her conviction of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill imposed the sentence on Tamika Somerville, 34.

According to information presented to the court, on or about May 12, 2012, Somerville, being a convicted felon, illegally possessed a Glock, Model 27, .40 caliber pistol loaded with twelve rounds of ammunition. Attached to the pistol was a laser sight. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year to possess a firearm. Somerville is a convicted felon as a result of six previous felony drug trafficking convictions from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. Somerville was also found in possession of 150 stamp bags of heroin which she possessed with the intent to distribute.

Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Somerville. This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.

Updated July 14, 2015