Judge Sentences McKeesport Drug Dealer to 9 Years in Federal Prison

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to nine years’ in prison, followed by six years’ supervised release, on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Cecil Shields, 41, of McKeesport.

According to information presented to the court at the time of the guilty plea hearing, Shields conspired with Elliot Page, Skyler Carter, and 18 other individuals, between March and June of 2017, to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in the Clairton, Pennsylvania area. Shields was held personally responsible for the distribution of more than 160 grams of fentanyl, purchased from his codefendant Elliott Page. At the time of his arrest in June 2017, Shields was in possession of more than $5,000 and 270 "stamp bags" of fentanyl.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.