PITTSBURGH – A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been sentenced to 45 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release on charges of violating federal drug and firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K Chung announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence yesterday on Juan Santiago, 43, formerly of the City’s Homewood neighborhood.
According to information presented to the Court, on Jan. 28, 2021, members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police executed a search warrant at a residence on Bennett Street, in the Homewood section of the City of Pittsburgh. While occupants inside of the residence were being hailed by officers, Santiago was observed exiting the rear of the residence carrying a large sum of money in one hand and a firearm tucked underneath his arm. Santiago fled back inside of the residence when he was confronted by officers. Santiago was pursued into the residence where he discarded the firearm inside of a kitchen cabinet. Santiago was ultimately detained inside of the dining room area of the residence where the money he was carrying was dropped onto the floor. From inside of the dining room area, officers discovered two partially constructed polymer ghost guns, an unloaded revolver, and 79 grams of cocaine and a digital scale consistent with drug trafficking. Santiago is precluded from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon a prior aggravated robbery conviction from Puerto Rico.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Ball prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Chung commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Juan Santiago.