Woman's Sentence For Refusing To Testify To Run Concurrent With Drug Conviction Prison Time

PITTSBURGH -A Pittsburgh resident has been sentenced in federal court to 21 months imprisonment to run concurrently with the 120 months imprisonment on a prior federal drug conviction and three years supervised release on her conviction of criminal contempt of court, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Allen N. Bloch imposed the sentence on Marquetta Lavelle Mitchell, 41.

According to information presented to the court, Mitchell disobeyed and resisted the lawful process, order and command of a Court of the United States, that is, she refused to testify at the October 16-22, 2012, trial of her boyfriend, Andre Williams, for charges that included conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, at Case Number 11-116, despite: the subpoena that required her to do so; an instruction from Senior United States District Court Judge Alan N. Bloch that her Fifth Amendment rights had been extinguished; and a written order compelling her to testify pursuant to a grant of immunity from Senior United States District Court Judge Alan N. Bloch.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the 21st Judicial District Drug Task Force in Tennessee for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Marquetta LavelleMitchell.