Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to distributing crack cocaine
A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty in federal court to dealing in drugs in connection with a local street gang, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Pittsburgh announced Monday.
Cecil Howard, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady.
Authorities said the FBI and DEA started a wiretap investigation in 2017 that primarily targeted the GBK street gang and drug trafficking in and around an area known as the Greenway Projects in Pittsburgh’s West End.
The wiretap investigation revealed that from around November 2017 through June 2018, Howard and his co-conspirators distributed more than 28 grams of crack cocaine in the city, Brady’s office said.
Howard faces 5 to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentencing is scheduled for April 21.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.
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