Former Pittsburgh Man Sentenced for Federal Drug and Identity Theft Violations

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Conestoga (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal drug and identity theft laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Andrew Black, 37, formerly of Pittsburgh, now of Conestoga.

According to information presented to the court, on March 31, 2020, Black attempted to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine when he ordered two ounces of methamphetamine from a “dark web” site. The package was intercepted by United States Postal Inspectors. Further, from January 2018 through March 2020, Black used fraudulently obtained personal identifying information to open bank accounts and credit cards in the names of unknowing victims in an attempt to obtain money illicitly to purchase illegal drugs.

Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen R. Kaufman and William B. Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Secret Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Black.