Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl and Cocaine Charges

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to federal drug charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

Andre Nunley, 50, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, and 500 grams or more of cocaine, as well as attempting to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between June 2022 and December 2023, Nunley was the subject of a joint investigation by federal, state, and local law enforcement operating under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program in Beaver County. As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized over 500 grams of cocaine from a mid-level drug dealer as he left a brief meeting with Nunley. In January 2023, law enforcement executed federal search warrants upon both of Nunley’s known stash houses, resulting in the seizure of approximately 15,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, 4,200 stamp bags, 40 boxes containing empty glassine bags, and bulk U.S. currency. A laboratory confirmed that the seized substances contained about 1,352 grams of fentanyl, 797 grams of a fluorofentanyl and fentanyl mixture, and 199 grams of fluorofentanyl. Fluorofentanyl and fentanyl are Schedule I and II controlled substances, respectively.

Following that seizure, law enforcement continued to investigate Nunley’s drug trafficking operation and identified a third residence used by Nunley. In December 2023, law enforcement intercepted a parcel addressed to that residence, which contained about two kilograms of fentanyl. During a controlled delivery operation of the seized parcel to the third residence, law enforcement encountered Nunley, who confessed to expecting a parcel containing drugs.

Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for August 7, 2024. The maximum penalty for the conspiracy charge is not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. The maximum penalty for the attempt charge is a term of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, Judge Stickman ordered Nunley remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Nunley.