DS44 Drug Dealer Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Law Violations

PITTSBURGH, PA -- A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to eight years of imprisonment on his convictions for violating various federal narcotics and firearm laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

United States District Judge William S. Stickman imposed the sentence on Devonte Parker, age 26.

According to information presented to the court at the change of plea hearing, law enforcement investigated Parker during a long-term, Title III wiretap investigation targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang and drug-trafficking activity in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. During the investigation, the government obtained authorization to intercept communications on numerous phones. Intercepted communications revealed that Parker served as drug dealer.

Additionally, on June 20, 20219, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant upon Parker’s residence. In Parker’s bedroom, law enforcement recovered packages narcotics containing fentanyl, valeryl fentanyl, and heroin. From that same bedroom, law enforcement recovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun between a mattress and a box spring. Parker is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions.

Parker’s imprisonment shall be for a total term of imprisonment of 96 months. Following imprisonment, Parker shall serve a 6-year term of supervised release.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman stated that “Fentanyl is a scourge on our community . . . Those who distribute fentanyl cause pain and death.”

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna and Carolyn Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Other assisting agencies include the Green Tree Police Department, New York City Police Department, Mount Oliver Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Yonkers Police Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

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.