Three Charged with Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl That Resulted in Two Deaths

PITTSBURGH – Three western Pennsylvania men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for heroin and fentanyl trafficking resulting in serious bodily injury and deaths, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The indictment charges Andre Higgs, 32 of Pittsburgh, Pa., Romar Watts, 34 of Homestead, Pa., and Brian Borruto, 40 of Ebensburg, Pa., with conspiring to distribute and distributing at least one kilogram of heroin and a quantity of fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of at least two people in March and April 2015. The indictment also charges Higgs with heroin trafficking on four additional occasions between February 2015 and November 2015.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of at least 20 years and up to life in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal histories, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Munhall Police Department, the Allegheny County Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Cambria County Coroner’s Office 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.