Monessen Felon Guilty of Heroin Dealing and Illegal Gun Possession

PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Monessen, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of illegal firearm possession and heroin dealing, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

Laurenti James Robertson, age 27, pleaded guilty to all four charges lodged against him before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Robertson was caught by local police officers in a rental car in possession of 158 stamp bags and $1,315.00 in cash on October 19, 2015. Just five days later, on October 24, 2015, other local police officers stopped Robertson after he had an argument in High Roller’s bar in Homestead, Pa. Police located one stamp bag of heroin on his person and 14 additional stamp bags hidden in the area behind the navigation unit in the dashboard of the SUV. Also behind the navigation unit, police located a loaded 9mm caliber semiautomatic Kel-Tec pistol. The Allegheny County Department of Laboratories was able to recover Robertson’s fingerprints from the firearm.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for Friday October 13, 2017 at 10:00am The law provides for a total sentence of at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2,500,000, or both. Robertson must also forfeit property to the government, including the $1,315.00 found in his possession. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court ordered Deputy United States Marshals to take Robertson into federal custody.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross Lenhardt of the Violent Crimes Section is the federal prosecutor who has the responsibility to prosecute this matter on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has joined forces with many state, county and local police departments in an effort to address the heroin and opioid issues within the Western District of Pennsylvania. In this matter, the DEA specifically worked with departments that included the Canonsburg Police Department, the Monessen Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office in order to successfully bring Robertson to justice.