Pittsburgh Review

A former resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on September 11, 2024, to 10 years in prison, followed by six years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Devon Lamont Johnson, 36, also sentencing Johnson on two separate violations of his supervised release. In both cases, Johnson was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison. These sentences will be served concurrently with each other but consecutively to the fentanyl case sentencing, resulting in a total term of imprisonment of 11 years and one day.

According to information presented to the Court, Allegheny County detectives were working on violent crime suppression detail in the Stowe/McKees Rocks area on April 5, 2021. They responded to a shots fired call possibly involving a dark SUV. Shortly after, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop of a black Chevrolet Blazer; however, the driver evaded detectives. Detectives later found the vehicle unoccupied and obtained a search warrant for the SUV. They seized 12 bricks (approximately 600 doses) of suspected fentanyl from it with bags stamped “Monster High” and “Toad.”

On April 14, 2021, agents made a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Johnson. The purchased bags were stamped with “Toad,” identical to those previously found in the Chevy Blazer. Based on this information, detectives obtained a search warrant for a Taggert Street residence and executed it on April 21, 2021. As detectives approached the residence, Johnson exited through the front door but retreated inside upon seeing police presence. Officers pursued him and secured him before he could destroy any evidence.

During the search of the residence, detectives located another set of 12 bricks of suspected fentanyl and a drink container with a hidden compartment containing approximately 50 tablets of fentanyl. Some bricks were stamped with “Toad” and packaged similarly to those found in the car. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office also discovered Johnson’s fingerprints on a shopping bag containing these bricks.

Johnson's conduct violated conditions of his supervised release for two previous criminal convictions: escape from custody and distribution of heroin.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Olshan commended the Allegheny County Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office for their investigation leading to Johnson's successful prosecution.