PITTSBURGH, PA -- A former resident of Philadelphia, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.
Jermaine Kyle Clark, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that as a result of an Allegheny County District Attorney Narcotics Enforcement Team (DANET) investigation into drug-trafficking activity within Allegheny County, DANET investigators, in February of 2019 using a Confidential Source (CS), orchestrated a controlled purchase of 5 kilograms of cocaine from the CS’s Philadelphia-based cocaine source of supply, Jermaine Clark, aka Fats.
Clark, in conjunction with his guilty plea, admitted that he and co-defendant Suggs traveled from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to conduct the drug transaction, using two vehicles, a Chevrolet Traverse and Subaru Tribeca, which both contained after-market, hydraulically controlled "traps" or compartments near the rear of the vehicles.
On February 24, 2019, Clark and Suggs met with the CS at a local restaurant and, on February 25, 2019, Clark and the CS agreed to meet to conduct the drug transaction at a location in North Braddock. Investigators conducted surveillance in the vicinity of where the drug transaction was to occur and observed the Chevy Traverse, driven by Clark, and Subaru Tribeca, driven by Suggs, arrive. The Court was further informed that investigators located 5 kilograms of cocaine in the Chevrolet Traverse’s trap and $8,060, behind the passenger seat in the Subaru as well as 18 kilograms of cocaine in the Subaru’s trap.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than ten years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Mr. Clark remain in custody.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County District Attorney Narcotics Enforcement Team (D.A.N.E.T), conducted the initial investigation and the arrest on February 25, 2019, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the federal prosecution of Clark.
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