Penn Hills Man Pleads to Drug and Firearms Offenses in Project Safe Neighborhoods Case
PITTSBURGH – A former Allegheny County resident pleaded guilty in federal court today to violating the federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Antwon Shamar Bonner, age 21, formerly of Penn Hills, pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, and to possessing firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on July 12, 2019, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives served a search warrant at the Defendant’s residence in Penn Hills, Allegheny County. There, agents located approximately 36 “bricks” (constituting approximately 1,800 individual dosage units) containing mixtures of both heroin and fentanyl, which are scheduled controlled substances under federal law. In connection with his guilty plea, the Defendant admitted to possessing those narcotics with the intent to distribute them. In addition to those narcotics, agents seized approximately $2,000 in U.S. currency, four loaded and operational firearms, one of which had an obliterated serial number, assorted ammunition, and high-capacity firearms magazines. In connection with his plea, the Defendant admitted that he possessed those firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime charged in the Indictment.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for April 23, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. The Court directed that Mr. Bonner remain in the custody of the United States Marshall, where he has been held following his arrest by ATF agents on July 12, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five (5) years and up to life in prison, a fine not to exceed $1,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mr. Bonner.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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