New Castle Woman Indicted on Multiple Drug Counts

 PITTSBURGH - A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

The four-count Indictment, returned on April 7 and unsealed today, named Deia Eggleston, age 46, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, from January 2017 through May 2019, Eggleston conspired with individuals known and unknown to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute Schedule I and Schedule II substances, including acetyl fentanyl, fentanyl, crack cocaine, heroin and cocaine. The Indictment further alleges that on May 3, 2019 and May 13, 2019, Eggleston aided and abetted others known and unknown to possess with the intent to distribute the previously named controlled substances. The Indictment further alleges that from January 2017 through May 2019, Eggleston did manage and control a place, that is, her Bleakley Avenue residence, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, as an occupant and did intentionally and knowingly make that residence available for the use and for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, and distributing controlled substances.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than ten years to a maximum of life in prison, a fine of $35,000,000 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, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. The Lawrence County Drug Task Force and the New Castle Police Department also participated in the investigation.

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.

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