Pittsburgh Man Indicted on Drug and Firearms Charges

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

The three-count Indictment named Darion Ethridge, age 21, as the sole defendant. Ethridge is charged with possession with the intent to distribute a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense.

According to a publicly filed affidavit, investigators had information that a male matching Mr. Ethridge’s description and car would be bringing 10 bricks of heroin to the area of 2727 Mosside Blvd., Monroeville, PA. When Mr. Ethridge arrived, he was stopped by police for a traffic violation and refused to exit the vehicle. He tried to drive away from officers but drove to the dead-end section of the parking lot. Mr. Ethridge then exited his vehicle, engaged in a brief physical altercation with a detective, and ran away ran through two parking lots. He ran onto Northern Pike where he stopped traffic and resisted multiple police officer. Mr. Ethridge was caught and taken into custody. In the car that Mr. Ethridge had been driving, investigators found a fully loaded, stolen firearm and 20 bricks, which is 1,000 stamp bags, of a substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl. Mr. Etheridge was arrested at the scene.

For the drug charge, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1 million, or both, if Mr. Ethridge is convicted. For possession of the firearm in furtherance of that drug-trafficking offense, the law provides for an additional sentence of 5 years in prison, to run consecutive to the sentence for the drug-trafficking offense. 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. Mr. Ethridge is being detained as determined at a prior hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Ira M. Karoll is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Monroeville Police Department and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General are leading the investigation and have been assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive in conducting the investigation, leading to the arrest of Mr. Ethridge.

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