Pittsburgh gang member sentenced to federal prison for drug, firearm conviction

A Pittsburgh man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after he was convicted of violating federal drug and firearms laws, officials announced Tuesday.

Devonte Parker, 26, became the latest member of Darccide/Smash 44, or DS44, a neighborhood gang involved with significant drug trafficking in the city.

U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman imposed Parker’s sentence.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh, the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force in 2017 began an investigation into the DS44 gang and its drug trafficking in and around Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood.

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Several members have been sentenced to federal prison over the past year for their involvement.

They include Lamont Benton, 24, of McKees Rocks who was sentenced in February 2021 to 46 months.

He pleaded guilty in October 2020 to a drug conspiracy charge.

Officials said a long-term wiretap investigation intercepted communications on numerous phones, which led to Parker being identified as a drug dealer.

Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Parker’s house in June and recovered packages narcotics containing fentanyl, valeryl fentanyl, and heroin from his bedroom, officials said.

They also found a loaded .45-caliber handgun between a mattress and a box spring.

Officials said Parker is prohibited from having guns and ammunition due to prior felony convictions.

Parker was also ordered to serve six years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

The FBI led the multi-agency investigation with assistance from the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, the Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department among others.