Arnold man pleads guilty to fentanyl, heroin trafficking

An Arnold man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to a charge of fentanyl and heroin trafficking.

Kevin Watson, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy to possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of heroin, according to Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Troy Rivetti’s office.

Watson faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million or both. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8.

Watson was granted a new trial last year when the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Watson’s 2021 conviction.

Watson, who represented himself in the case, raised several grounds on appeal, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office conceded on one issue: that the judge permitted improper cross-examination and closing argument, which resulted in error.

They agreed Watson was entitled to a new trial.

On April 26, 2019, state police tried to pull over Watson on Route 28 near the RIDC Park exit for dark window tint. He sped away, authorities said at the time. A young child was in the back seat of Watson’s vehicle.

Watson then led officers on a chase that reached speeds of 115 mph, according to authorities. Watson crashed the vehicle at the foot of the Tarentum Bridge and ran away from the scene. The child was not “seriously injured” but was left inside the car, according to authorities.

Later, police obtained a search warrant for Watson’s car, where they found more than $100,000 worth of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin in the trunk, according to authorities.

Watson was on parole at the time of the 2019 offense.