Heroin Dealer Gets 10 Years In Federal Prison

PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident was sentenced in federal court to 10 years of incarceration on his conviction of federal heroin trafficking charges, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Omar Rashad Smith, 26.

According to information presented to the court, on June 21, 2012, Smith was apprehended by federal agents and Pittsburgh narcotics detectives fleeing a house where heroin was being actively packaged into individual dosage units commonly called “stamp bags.” The items located in the residence included various tools commonly used in heroin packaging, such as a scale, masks, a food processor and enough heroin to make well over 3,000 stamp bags-- worth nearly $30,000 on the street. Police also located a stolen firearm within an arm’s length of the table where the heroin was being processed.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hornak considered the sentences imposed as a result of the defendant’s three previous convictions for felony drug offenses in Allegheny County and stated that the 10-year sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to deter others from heroin dealing. Judge Hornak also imposed 7 years of supervision by the United States Probation Office after Smith’s release, in order to help protect the public from further crimes of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and ensured that the drug money seized by police was forfeited. By forfeiting drug money, drug dealers ease the burden on taxpayers and actually help to investigate and prosecute future drug dealers.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Allegheny County Probation Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Smith.