PITTSBURGH, PA — A resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Katrae Smith, age 19, formerly of Pittsburgh PA 15221.
According to information presented to the court, in and around April 2021 and June 2021, Smith conspired with others to obtain firearms using his co-defendant, the “straw purchaser.” The conspirators communicated with each other using their cellular phones on multiple occasions in order to unlawfully acquire firearms. Smith’s offense occurred over several months and resulted in the unlawful acquisition of multiple firearms. The Wilkinsburg Police Department recovered one of those firearms while responding to a 911 call. Smith was found with a loaded Glock model 19x, 9mm caliber pistol near him. A trace of the firearm revealed that his co-defendant had purchased that firearm six days prior.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Smith.