Elizabeth, PA Cocaine Dealer Will Spend 5 Years in Federal Prison

PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to a term of imprisonment of 60 months, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Christopher Joseph Lubic, age 33, of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.

According to information presented to the court, between July 2015 and August 2016, Lubic received several packages containing cocaine from California. Lubic sent money orders as payment. On August 18, 2016, law enforcement obtained a search warrant to open a package sent from California to an address associated with Lubic in Duquesne, PA. The package contained cocaine. An electronic monitoring device was inserted into the package in preparation for a controlled delivery. Shortly after the package was delivered to the defendant, authorities were alerted that the package was opened. When agents entered the residence, they found the open parcel containing cocaine on the floor. A portion of the label was on the defendant’s shoe. The search of the residence revealed additional cocaine, for a total of over 513g, cocaine "cut", a cocaine press, $60,000, drug paraphernalia and materials used in prior deliveries from California.

Lubic agreed to speak with postal inspectors and admitted to receiving packages containing cocaine. He also admitted to purchasing a cocaine press and "cut" to increase the volume of cocaine. He acknowledged sending money orders to CA. He stated that he was going to pay $20,000 for the delivery and sell the cocaine to another individual for $22,000.

Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Postal Investigation Service and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lubic.