Retired Greensburg cop Regina McAtee sentenced to 36 months' probation

A retired Greensburg police officer was sentenced Tuesday to 36 months’ probation in a drug conspiracy case that involved the city’s former police chief.

Regina McAtee, 52, of New Kensington pleaded guilty in May 2024 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

“Ms. McAtee, I think you know I’m cutting you a break here,” said U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon. “The crime you committed was incredibly serious.”

McAtee declined to speak when given the opportunity during the brief hearing.

Prosecutors said she conspired with former Greensburg police Chief Shawn Denning, 44, of Delmont between November 2020 and January 2023 to order and pay for drugs from suppliers online.

Pills they ordered that contained methamphetamine were shipped to McAtee’s home and text messages between her and Denning showed they were working together, investigators have said. The orders were at first 10 to 20 pills but progressed to 100 at a time and McAtee made Cash App payments to the online suppliers, authorities said.

Records obtained by TribLive showed McAtee has received more than $100,000 in pension payments since her mid-2023 retirement, including $5,160.99 on May 1. Greensburg officials are seeking prosecutors’ records in McAtee’s case to review. Two attorneys representing Greensburg attended the hearing. City council has been trying to determine whether she is eligible to continue receiving her full pension.

McAtee was suspended without pay from the Greensburg force for five months in February 2023, the month after Denning’s arrest at city hall, and retired later that year. She was charged in March 2024. A sentencing memorandum filed last week by defense attorney Charles Porter indicated McAtee and Denning were involved romantically.

McAtee had sought a probation sentence in court filings. Bissoon said she balanced McAtee’s acceptance of responsibility with the serious nature of the crime and impact on the public trust.

“I hope and trust that you will not make me regret that decision,” Bissoon said.

Denning was ordered to report June 10 to begin serving a 15-month sentence in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

Prosecutors said he communicated with a government informant starting in July 2021 and connected that person with drug dealers in California to buy cocaine and methamphetamine. That continued for 15 months, according to court filings.