Pittsburgh Felon Charged with Violating Federal Drug and Gun Laws

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The three-count Superseding Indictment named Kris Johnson, age 28, of 1613 Antrim Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to superseding indictment, on or about November 9, 2017, Johnson possessed with the intent to distribute heroin and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Further, Johnson possessed firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crimes and was in possession of firearms and ammunition having been previously convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $5,500,000 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, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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