Hazelwood Man Charged with Drug and Gun Offenses

PITTSBURGH – One resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug trafficking and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

The three-count indictment, returned yesterday, named James Weldon Johnson, age 32, of the Hazelwood neighborhood in Pittsburgh, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on January 2, 2017, Johnson possessed with intent to distribute quantities of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, as well as possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. Also according to the indictment, he possessed with intent to distribute, and distributed, fentanyl on December 30, 2016.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $2,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Rachael L. Dizard is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, along with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.