Repeat Drug Offender Pleads Guilty to Trafficking 5 Different Drugs

PITTSBURGH, Pa – A former resident of West Mifflin, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to a federal narcotics charge, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Stanley Church, 47, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of possession with intent to distribute quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA, and Psilocyn mushrooms before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on March 17, 2017, Allegheny County Police detectives went to execute a search warrant on the person of Stanley Church and his vehicle. This search warrant was approved after investigators observed Church trafficking drugs out of this same vehicle. Investigators conducted a traffic stop on Church and then began to search his car. Inside Church’s car investigators found quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA, and Psilocyn mushrooms, drug packaging material, scales, and other paraphernalia. Church has previously been convicted of state and federal narcotics offenses.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for March 13, 2019. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior record of the defendant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the guilty plea in this case. This Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and state and local Task Force Officers, including officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sherriff’s Department, Allegheny County Police, Port Authority Police, Munhall Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.