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United States Attorney's Office PITTSBURGH MAN ADMITS PARTICIPATING IN COCAINE DISTRIBUTION SCHEME |
United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, March 13, 2008, that Kevin Cooper, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating the federal drug laws.
Cooper, age 37, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti advised the court that from in or around 2004 until on or about March 30, 2006, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Cooper and others conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for June 19, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $4,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kevin Cooper. Other agencies participating in the investigation include the Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force (FBI, Pittsburgh Police, Allegheny County District Attorney's Investigations Unit, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the West Mifflin Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department, the Monroeville Police Department and the Verona Police Department.
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