Pittsburgh Woman Admits Distributing Multiple Drugs, Including Fentanyl and Cocaine that Caused an Overdose Death

PITTSBURGH, PA. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to distribute narcotics, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Katie Spratt, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with 20 other individuals, between March and August 2017, to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, more commonly known as crack. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Spratt regularly purchased fentanyl and cocaine from her co-defendant, Skylar Carter, for both personal use and further distribution, and was responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and cocaine resulting in the overdose death of a victim identified as A.B. on June 5, 2017. Spratt further acknowledged her responsibility for participating with other members of the conspiracy in the distribution of more than 160 grams of fentanyl, 280 grams of cocaine base, and 3.5 kilograms of cocaine. She is the fifth of 21 defendants charged in the case to enter a plea of guilty.

Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled sentencing for August 29, 2018, at 10 a.m. Spratt has a prior felony drug conviction, and as such, she is subject to enhanced penalties. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of not more than $2 million, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Spratt remains incarcerated pending the sentencing hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.