Duquesne Man Charged with Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Analogues

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh and charged with violations of federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The three-count indictment, returned on March 21 and unsealed today, named Marquis Brown, age 29, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on or about October 3, 2017, Marquis Brown possessed with the intent to distribute quantities of heroin, para-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, and methoxyacetyl fentanyl. On the same date, Brown is also charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of that firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Federal law prohibits a felon from possessing a firearm.

For the drug charges, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Brown also faces a maximum total sentence on the firearms charges of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. This Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and state and local Task Force Officers, including officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department, Allegheny County Police, Port Authority Police, Munhall Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.