Butler County man among 17 named in federal drug, weapons indictment
A Bruin man is among 17 people indicted by a federal grand jury following a four-month wiretap investigation into drug trafficking, unlawful firearms possession and gang activity in Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhoods.
Gilbert Smith, 44, was charged with a felony count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Fentanyl and crack cocaine were the drugs involved, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh, which announced the indictments Friday.
Smith, the only defendant not from Allegheny County, is being held in the Butler County Prison, according to court records. The grand jury issued the indictments Tuesday, Aug. 15.
Between December 2022 and August 2023, the defendants conspired with one another and with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Schedule II controlled substances, namely fentanyl and cocaine base, which is commonly known as crack, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan.
“This office is committed to protecting the residents of Western Pennsylvania from those who engage in gun violence and traffic in fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” said Olshan. “Together with our trusted law enforcement partners at the FBI, ATF, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, we will continue to investigate and hold accountable the most dangerous offenders through effective enforcement of federal drug and firearm laws.”
Smith and several other defendants face a maximum sentence of five to 40 years in prison, a fine of up $5,000,000, or both.
“Violence doesn’t belong in our communities,” said Mike Nordwall, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office. “Those indicted today have targeted the Northside in and around the Allegheny Commons for far too long. The FBI’s Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force pursues those who terrorize our communities with violence and dangerous drugs like fentanyl. We are proud to work side by side with the U.S. Attorney’s office and our state and local partners to hold these people accountable for their crimes.”
