Pittsburgh Felon Trafficked Heroin

PITTSBURGH, PA – One former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to one count of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Anthony Ptomey, age 26, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on April 17, 2017, investigators were conducting surveillance in the City of Pittsburgh and saw Ptomey pull up in a Silver Hyundai. Ptomey entered a home and left after a short amount of time. When Ptomey left the home, he was making suspicious movements in his crotch area and continually re-adjusting his pants in the waistband area. Ptomey then reentered the Hyundai which was subsequently stopped by investigators.

When officers began to approach the vehicle, they saw Ptomey, who was in the front passenger’s seat, reaching back and pulling a diaper bag into the front of the car. When officers made contact with Ptomey, they learned that he had an open arrest warrant and was detained. Once Ptomey was detained, officers did a frisk of him and recovered seven bricks of heroin from his crotch region. The driver and owner of the vehicle, gave consent for officers to search the car. Officers recovered eight more bricks of heroin from the diaper bag that Ptomey was holding in the front of the car. The Allegheny County Crime Lab tested the seized substances and determined that the substances tested positive for heroin.   

After he was arrested, Ptomey was read his Miranda Rights, which he waived and agreed to speak with investigators. Ptomey stated that in March and April of 2017, he would receive 10 – 15 bricks of heroin twice a week, every week from a supplier and then redistribute that heroin.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2018 at 2:15 p.m. Due to Ptomey’s prior conviction for drug trafficking, the law provides an increased penalty for a total maximum sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $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 of the defendant.  Ptomey will continue to be detained pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the guilty plea in this case. This Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and state and local Task Force Officers, including officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sherriff’s Department, Allegheny County Police, Port Authority Police, Munhall Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.