Beaver County Man Pleads Guilty in Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Monaca, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Nikia Perkins, 44, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count before Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from in and around September 2016, and continuing thereafter to in and around July 2017, Perkins conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute at least 1.2 kilograms, but less than 4 kilograms of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for July 23, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine not to exceed $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This investigation was part of a long-term investigation by the FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force (GPSSTF), which targeted a large scale Drug Trafficking Organization operating in Butler, Beaver and Allegheny Counties. The GPSSTF is comprised of dedicated law enforcement professionals from the Wilkinsburg Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the FBI. The GPSSTF and the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, would like to recognize the significant contributions made to this investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, United Sates Postal Inspection Service, Cranberry Township Police Department and the New Brighton Police Department. The Department of Homeland Security Investigators also assisted in the investigation that led to the prosecution of Nikia Perkins.

This investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.