A pair of Pittsburgh men pleaded guilty to scheming to sell fentanyl and heroin in the region, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
John Burton, 31, and Nico Nixon, 29, were convicted in federal court in Pittsburgh following guilty pleas to drug trafficking and firearm crimes after their trials last year, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said.
Nixon pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to sell heroin and fentanyl on Aug. 3. Burton admitted to possessing with intent to sell fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, heroin and crack cocaine on Aug. 26.
Each faces an additional charge of using a gun to further a drug crime.
Federal guidelines allow for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison for the convictions, and fines up to $2.25 million.
U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwan scheduled Nixon’s sentencing for July 13 and Burton’s for the next day.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted the cases.
Pittsburgh police, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office collaborated in the investigation.
