East Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 15 Years for Attempting to Deal Drugs, Illegal Gun Possession

PITTSBURGH - A former resident of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 180 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years supervised release, for his convictions for violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on James Folks, age 47. Folks was convicted and sentenced for (1) attempting to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of methoxyacetyl fentanyl and (2) possessing a firearm after seven prior felony convictions.

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

The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the convictions and sentence in this case.