A jury deliberated for less than an hour before convicting a Pittsburgh man of dealing fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine out of his home in the city’s Hazelwood neighborhood, federal prosecutors said Monday.
James Weldon Johnson, 36 — who goes by the nickname “300 Blocc Knocc” — was found guilty on four counts of drug and gun charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman said.
Chief U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak ordered Johnson to remain in the custody of U.S. Marshals until his March 2 sentencing hearing.
The law provides for a total sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison and a fine up to $4.5 million, according to Kaufman.
According to assistant U.S. attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Ross E. Lenhardt, who prosecuted the case, Johnson was observed by a Pittsburgh detective to be distributing fentanyl directly outside a Renova Street residence on Dec. 30, 2016.
A Jan. 2, 2017, search warrant of the home turned up large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, crack and methamphetamine and related paraphernalia such as electronic scales and baking soda and inositol, court records show.
Police also seized a loaded .45-caliber handgun — later determined to be stolen — and two extended length magazines for the firearm.
When arrested, Johnson was carrying more than $900 in cash, two cellphones and keys to the residence, prosecutors said.
Further search warrants to examine the cellphone records revealed messages involved in drug-dealing — including the Dec. 30, 2016, transaction observed by the detective.
Kaufman credited the help of the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration in conducting the investigation.
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