Clairton Man Pleads Guilty in Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

PITTSBURGH, PA. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to distribute narcotics, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Kevin Jackson, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with 20 other individuals, between March and August 2017, to distribute narcotics. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Jackson was responsible for the distribution of between 100 and 400 grams of heroin, which he purchased from his codefendant, Skyler Carter, in the Clairton, Pennsylvania area. He is the sixth of 21 defendants charged in the case to enter a plea of guilty.

Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled sentencing for August 30, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. Jackson has a prior felony drug conviction, and as such, he is subject to enhanced penalties. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of not more than $2 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. Jackson remains incarcerated pending the sentencing hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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.