PITTSBURGH, PA — A former resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years imprisonment and five years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Che Williams, age 35, formerly of the City’s Knoxville neighborhood.
According to information presented to the court, Williams was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
The conspiracy charge related to Williams’ involvement as one of the fentanyl suppliers to the Hustlas Don’t Sleep drug trafficking organization that was targeted and dismantled through an investigation that included, among other investigative techniques, court-authorized interceptions of the communications of various participants in the conspiracy, including Williams. In summary, those communications revealed that Williams was supplying various members of the Hustlas Don’t Sleep drug trafficking organization with substantial quantities of fentanyl that the members of the organization distributed.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Williams’ residence. That search revealed more than 40 grams of fentanyl, three guns and numerous rounds of ammunition, digital scales, and other evidence of drug trafficking. Williams has a significant history of prior felony convictions and is therefore precluded under federal law from possessing firearms.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
This prosecution is 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.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.