Domestic Abuse and Drug Use Send Felon Back to Prison

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on November 28, 2017 to one year and one day in prison as a result of again violating his federal supervision, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on defendant Ondaryle Smith, who was initially sentenced to 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervision for his federal drug conviction. Smith later served an additional sentence of 2 years in prison and 3 years of supervision in 2014 for other violations of his supervision.

According to information presented to the court, while serving his most recent supervision, the defendant tested positive for cocaine and marijuana use, and later assaulted his girlfriend.

Chief Judge Conti also imposed a new period of 24 months of supervision by the United States Probation Office, to begin after Smith completes his most recent jail sentence.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt of the Violent Crimes Section prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and played the 911 recording for the Court. There, the defendant’s girlfriend is in obvious distress and states that Smith choked her, kicked her in the ribs, and hit her in the face. The prosecution also presented the Court with a picture of the victim’s facial injuries.

Acting United States Attorney Song commended the Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Smith.