Member of Lightfoot Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine

PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Clairton, PA, has pleaded guilty to a federal narcotics charge, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Kevin Ford, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in front of United States District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak. Ford has been detained since his initial arrest on April 25, 2018 and will remain detained pending sentencing.

According to information presented to the court, from April to December 2017, Ford was a member of the Lightfoot drug trafficking organization. As part of that conspiracy, Ford would acquire quantities of cocaine from Jamie Lightfoot, Jr. and would then resell that cocaine to other members of the conspiracy. Over the course of the conspiracy, Ford was responsible for between 500 grams and 2.5 kilograms of cocaine.

The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $8,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Due to a prior drug trafficking conviction, Ford is facing increased penalties.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the South Strabane Police Department, the Elizabeth Borough Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department and the Perryopolis Police Department, conducted the investigation that led to the Indictment in this case.

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.