Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl to Canonsburg Resident who Died of an Overdose

 PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to serve 84 months of imprisonment for a violation of the federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

William Jamar Saunders, 31, formerly of Clairtonica Street, pleaded guilty to distributing a quantity of heroin and fentanyl on August 21, 2018, before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Saunders distributed a quantity of heroin and fentanyl to agents working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who began investigating Saunders following a fatal overdose on June 13, 2018, in Canonsburg, Washington County, PA. As part of the guilty plea, Saunders admitted that he distributed a mixture containing heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, packaged in stamp bags called “Super Mario,” which resulted in the death of a Canonsburg resident.

Following his 84-month term of imprisonment, Saunders will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for six years. The Court directed Saunders to pay restitution to the victim’s family for funeral expenses.

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

Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which conducted the investigation in partnership with the Canonsburg Borough Police Department and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, for the successful prosecution of Saunders.