Pittsburgh Man Charged with Possessing Crack Cocaine

PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating the federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on August 30 and unsealed September 26, named Walter Porter, age 45, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on April 14, 2016, Walter Porter possessed with the intent to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine.

On the sole count of the indictment, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Indiana Borough Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

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