Cheswick Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Methamphetamine

PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Cheswick, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics law, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

Eric Armes, 44, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that The Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a federal Title III investigation, from August to November of 2020, which resulted in the interception of wire and electronic communications over a total of ten telephones.

One of the intercepted telephones belonged to the defendant, Eric Armes. During intercepted communications, Mr. Armes speaks with, among others, his co-defendants, regarding his drug-trafficking activity, including trafficking of methamphetamine. Mr. Armes acknowledged that he was responsible for the sale of and could otherwise have foreseen the distribution of more than 200 but not less than 350 grams of methamphetamine.

Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for May 26, 2023, at 11:00 AM. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court ordered the defendant remain detained.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case that led to the prosecution of Armes, which also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations. Other assisting agencies include the Allegheny County Police Department Homicide, Baldwin Police Department, Brentwood Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Stowe Township Police Department and West Deer Township Police Department.

This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.