Washington, Pa. Felon Charged with Violating Federal Drug and Gun Laws

PITTSBURGH – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, with violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The four-count indictment, returned on October 16, named Gerald Herion Williams, age 33, as the defendant.

According to the indictment, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Williams, a felon, unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition on September 12, 2018. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess a firearm or ammunition. The Indictment further charges the defendant with distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and fentanyl on August 28, 2018, and quantities of methoxyacetyl fentanyl, a controlled substance analogue, on September 8, 2017, and on September 15, 2017.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence for the defendant of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $6,250,000, 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 of the defendant.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Wheeler of the Washington County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force, Washington City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). On July 12, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions selected the Western District of Pennsylvania as one of ten districts from across the country to implement the program. All cases involving the illegal distribution of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, arising in Washington County, Pennsylvania will be systematically prosecuted in federal court. The surge in federal resources has the twin goals of reducing the number of overdose fatalities and eliminating drug trafficking in synthetic opioids. The United States Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and local Washington County Police Departments, are leading Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).