PITTSBURGH, PA — Regina McAtee, a 51-year-old former police officer from New Kensington, Pennsylvania, entered a guilty plea in federal court for her involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, marking a stark revelation of corruption within the Greensburg police force.
Standing before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon, McAtee confessed to participating in a scheme to distribute methamphetamine disguised as “Adderall” pills, alongside her superior, former Greensburg Chief of Police Shawn Denning, and other unnamed drug suppliers. The operation involved ordering the counterfeit pills from online sources, with McAtee handling the financial transactions. The deliveries were made to McAtee’s home, from where she would pass some of the drugs back to Denning for further distribution.
This case gained traction following Denning’s own admission of guilt to a related drug conspiracy charge on April 16, 2024, also presented before Judge Bissoon. These admissions have cast a shadow over the Greensburg Police Department, revealing a troubling partnership between high-ranking law enforcement officials and the very crimes they were tasked to combat.
U.S. Attorney Olshan, in a statement, expressed dismay at the betrayal exhibited by McAtee, emphasizing the gravity of law enforcement officials engaging in drug trafficking. He reaffirmed the commitment of his office and partnering law enforcement agencies to pursue and prosecute individuals involved in drug dealing activities, irrespective of their position or status.
The legal repercussions for McAtee could be severe, with sentencing guidelines allowing for up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $1 million. The actual sentence, scheduled to be determined by Judge Bissoon on August 22, 2024, will take into account the severity of the offense and McAtee’s prior criminal history, if any exists.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is leading the prosecution of this case, which stemmed from an extensive investigation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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