Detroit Resident Sentenced to Prison for Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Heroin Trafficking

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Detroit, Michigan, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months in prison on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Patrick Brown, 33, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin between August 2023 and August 2024, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine on August 1, 2024. Judge Colville also ordered Brown to pay a $1,000 fine and to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term.

Prior to sentencing, Judge Colville was informed that Brown was part of a conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of controlled substances in New Castle as well as in Detroit, Michigan. Brown primarily participated in the conspiracy by regularly selling fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to customers, including moving from the Detroit area to work the conspiracy’s trap houses in New Castle.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution in this case.

This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.