Former Allegheny County Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Running a Large-Scale Fentanyl Trafficking Organization

PITTSBURGH – A former Allegheny County man was sentenced to 15 years and one month (181 months) in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after his convictions at trial on multiple federal narcotic and firearms offenses. United States District Court Judge Marilyn S. Horan imposed the sentence on Cameron Basking, age 28, previously of Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh.

Basking was previously tried before United States Judge Marilyn S. Horan. He was convicted after a week-long jury trial of one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

According to information presented during the course of the trial, Cameron Basking was the leader of a large scale fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating in Allegheny County from January to March 14 of 2018. Basking would receive large amount of fentanyl from two co-conspirator suppliers and then mix that fentanyl for future resale. To further this conspiracy, Basking used multiple locations in Allegheny County to cut and mix the fentanyl, store the fentanyl, and sell the fentanyl.

As part of the investigation, on March 14, 2018, members of the FBI’s Western Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force executed search warrants at multiple locations and vehicles tied to Basking. At a location on Princeton Boulevard in Wilkinsburg, investigators recovered tens of thousands of stamp bags used to package fentanyl in the basement of this location as well as ammunition. At an address on West Carter in North Versailles, investigators recovered voluminous drug and drug related evidence including over 40 grams of fentanyl, thousands of stamp bags, blenders and grinders, and gas masks to protect from fentanyl exposure. Additionally at the West Carter address, investigators recovered a fully loaded 9mm Glock handgun, a fully loaded Bushmaster .308 assault rifle, two extended 9mm magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. At another location in Wilkinsburg, on Rebecca Street, investigators recovered another firearm and ammunition, a quantity of fentanyl, six digital scales for drug distribution use and fentanyl packaging material.

Evidence presented at trial showed that Basking used the West Carter address to store the fentanyl, the Princeton Boulevard address to cut and mix the fentanyl for distribution, and the Rebecca Street address as the distribution center. In handing down the sentence, Judge Horan found that Basking had an aggravating role in the offense as he was the leader of five or more people in a narcotics trafficking organization.

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and Christopher Cook represented the Government in this prosecution and trial.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case. This Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and state and local Task Force Officers, including officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sherriff’s Department, Allegheny County Police, Port Authority Police, Munhall Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. The Allegheny Office of the Medical Examiner, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Narcotics and Vice Division, and Drug Enforcement Agency also assisted in the prosecution of this case.