Clairton Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl Causing an Overdose Death

PITTSBURGH, PA. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of fentanyl resulting in an overdose death, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Skyler Carter, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing fentanyl causing serious bodily injury and death. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Carter had supplied quantities of fentanyl and cocaine to his codefendant, Katie Spratt, which she then distributed to the victim user, identified as A.B., causing his overdose death on June 5, 2017. In addition to the overdose death, Carter acknowledged his responsibility for the distribution of at least 160 grams of fentanyl, 280 grams of cocaine base, and 3.5 kilograms of cocaine. Carter enlisted the help of his brother and sister, codefendants Courtney and Jalea Carter, among others, in his drug trafficking activities, using their residences to store, package and distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. He is the seventeenth of 21 defendants charged in the conspiracy to enter a plea of guilty.

Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled sentencing for October 4, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 20 years nor more than life in prison, a fine of not more than $1 million, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Carter remains incarcerated pending the sentencing hearing.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). 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. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.