Turtle Creek Brothers Charged with Violating Federal Drug, Gun and Witness Tampering Laws

PITTSBURGH – Two Allegheny County residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug, firearms, and witness tampering laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The nine-count superseding indictment named Julian Gray, age 26, and Brandon Gray, age 24, of Turtle Creek, Pa., as the defendants.

According to the superseding indictment, on April 24, 2018 and June 4, 2018, Julian Gray and Brandon Gray conspired to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base, and possessed with the intent to distribute quantities of heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. The superseding indictment also alleges that on April 24, 2018, Julian Gray possessed a (1) a Ruger .380 LCP caliber handgun; (2) a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun; and, (3) a black .22 caliber rifle, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The superseding indictment also alleges that on April 24, 2018, Brandon Gray possessed a Mossberg .22 caliber rifle and on June 4, 2018, he possessed a Taurus 9 mm model PT111G2 handgun, after having been convicted of a previous felony offense (robbery). The superseding indictment further alleges that on June 4, 2018, Brandon Gray possessed a Taurus 9 mm model PT111G2 handgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Lastly, the superseding indictment alleges that from April 25, 2018 to June 6, 2018, Julian and Brandon Gray engaged in a course of conduct directing a person known to the Grand Jury to falsely report to law enforcement that said person possessed controlled substances found by law enforcement in the home of Julian Gray and Brandon Gray.

The defendants face a maximum total penalty of not less than five years and up to life imprisonment, 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 offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive (ATF), conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case with valuable assistance from the Wilkins Township Police and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. 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.

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