Pittsburgh Teen was Drug Runner for South Side Gang’s Distribution Network

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to drug trafficking in connection with a large-scale investigation conducted by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Roderick Ferguson, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. Mr. Ferguson is one of 36 defendants charged in the Indictment.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2017, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation primarily targeting the Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, neighborhood gang, and its drug-trafficking activity, in and around the South Side area of Pittsburgh. As part of this large-scale narcotics and firearms investigation, in February of 2019, the United States received authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through June of 2019.

Intercepted communications revealed that Mr. Ferguson was a drug runner for his co-defendant, Christopher Highsmith, who is among the leaders of the drug trafficking organization. As a condition of the guilty plea, Ferguson accepted responsibility for the distribution of 15 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin in the Pittsburgh area. The court was further informed that on June 20, 2019, law enforcement seized a Sig Sauer firearm and ammunition during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence at on West Warrington Avenue in Pittsburgh.

Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for October 15, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Ferguson is on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Christy C. Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.