PITTSBURGH – A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, resident pleaded guilty in federal court today to violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Zion Elam-Sturgis, age 23, of Philadelphia, pled guilty before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville.
According to information provided to the Court, Elam-Sturgis admitted to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectible amount of cocaine base, in Butler, Pennsylvania, between January 2017 and June 2020; and to possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectible amount of cocaine base on June 2, 2020.
Judge Colville scheduled sentencing to occur on March 21, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of not more than 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Yvonne M. Saadi and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Butler County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force led the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.