Beaver Falls Man Admits to Drug Offenses

 PITTSBURGH, PA– A former resident of Beaver County, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to violations of the federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

Brandon Quinn, 33, formerly of Beaver Falls, PA, pleaded guilty to a two-count Indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and with possessing 28 grams or more of cocaine base with the intent to distribute it, before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Quinn’s criminal conduct was uncovered during a Title III wiretap investigation targeting a drug trafficking organization operated by Donald Epps. That investigation resulted in the indictment of Epps and 11 other alleged co-conspirators, all of whom are charged in the Western District of Pennsylvania with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine from November 2019 until June 2020. The government advised the Court that its evidence showed that Epps distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine to alleged codefendant Michael Turner who, in turn, redistributed 500 grams or more of that cocaine to Defendant Quinn. The government further advised the Court that in November 2020, agents searched a residence utilized by Quinn where they seized over 28 grams of cocaine base (in the form commonly known as “crack”). In connection with his plea, Quinn admitted he possessed the cocaine base for redistribution.

Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for Jan. 5, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and not more than forty years in prison, a fine of not more than $5,000,000, 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 remanded Mr. Quinn to the custody of the United States Marshal.

Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (Bureau of Narcotics Investigations) led the multi-agency investigation in this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. This Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force investigation was a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.