Washington County Man Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

PITTSBURGH – A Washington County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The two-count indictment named Fred Edward Stewart, Jr., age 37, of Ellsworth, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Stewart, Jr. possessed with intent to distribute and distributed heroin and fentanyl, on Feb. 12, 2016. The indictment further charges that on Feb. 12, 2016, Stewart, Jr. also possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute it.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000,000, 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 Attorneys Ross E. Lenhardt and Katherine A. King, of the Violent Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Washington County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, and numerous local police departments including the Canonsburg Police Department, the Donora Police Department, the Monessen Police Department, and the Charleroi Police Department, as well as the Washington County Coroner’s Office, and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’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.