PITTSBURGH, PA — Gerard Riley, 52, from Atlanta, Georgia, finds himself behind bars for a lengthy stint after a federal court ruling on Tuesday. The sentence? A solid 71 months in the slammer, followed by four years of supervised release, all thanks to his involvement in a cocaine distribution conspiracy that stretched all the way to Pennsylvania.
United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan was the bearer of the news, announcing the court’s decision which was handed down by United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. The charge? Conspiring to distribute and the actual distribution of a whopping 500 grams or more of cocaine. But it doesn’t end there. Riley wasn’t acting alone; he was part of a larger network, working alongside others to spread kilograms of cocaine across the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The operation was sophisticated, involving not just the distribution but also the financial side of things, with proceeds being funneled back to accomplices. One notable incident highlighted in court was when Riley personally delivered 10 kilograms of cocaine on September 27, 2021, only for it to be seized by the DEA hours later following a search warrant execution.
Before dropping the hammer, Judge Bissoon emphasized the gravity of Riley’s actions, marking them as a “very serious crime.” The hefty sentence was designed to mirror the severity of the case, sending a clear message about the consequences of engaging in such illegal activities.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan took the lead in prosecuting this case, ensuring that justice was served. Meanwhile, United States Attorney Olshan didn’t miss the opportunity to praise the Drug Enforcement Administration for their stellar investigative work that led to Riley’s prosecution.
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