Young Fentanyl Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Possessing Large Quantities of Drugs and Multiple Firearms

PITTSBURGH – A former resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to federal narcotics and firearms charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Dushawn Griffey, age 21, pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised in March of 2017, Griffey, then 18, was a fentanyl dealer living and operating out of a house in McKees Rocks, PA. On March 28, 2017, City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Detectives stopped Griffey after he left his house in McKees Rocks and recovered a bag of fentanyl and a loaded firearm from him. Subsequent to this stop, members of the FBI Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force conducted a search of Griffey’s home. The search of the home recovered a large quantity of suspected fentanyl, drug packaging materials and drug paraphernalia, and multiple firearms.

The law provides for a mandatory minimum total sentence of 10 years in prison up to life, a fine of $1,000,000 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. DuShawn Griffey has been detained since his initial appearance in federal court and will remain detained pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and Douglas Maloney are 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, Stowe-Rox Police Department, and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.