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Press Release

Whitaker Man Gets 10½ Years in Prison for Distributing Drugs that Resulted in Death

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Whitaker, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 126 months imprisonment followed by six years supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence yesterday on Justin Thornton, 34, of Whitaker, Pennsylvania.

According to information presented to the court, on August 7 and 8, 2015, Thornton distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of acetylfentanyl and a quantity of fentanyl. Thornton agreed that the drugs he distributed resulted in the death of A. N. Additionally, on August 13, 2015, Thornton possessed with intent to distribute heroin, acetylfentanyl, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and cocaine.

Assistant United States Attorney Katherine A. King prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the Allegheny County Police Department, the West Mifflin Police Department, and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Thornton.

Updated January 10, 2018

Topic
Opioids