PITTSBURGH, PA — Randy Cross, a 40-year-old former Pittsburgh resident, was sentenced to 84 months, or seven years, in federal prison on April 2, 2024. Following his prison term, Cross will be under supervised release for six years. This sentence comes as a result of his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws, a case that underscores the severity with which the judicial system treats drug offenses, particularly those involving opioids.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV delivered the sentence, marking the culmination of an investigation that began with a significant drug seizure in March 2021. Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers discovered 33 bricks, 11 bundles, and three plastic storage bags filled with a mixture of heroin and fentanyl at Cross’s residence, alongside $11,260 in cash. The mixture of heroin, a highly addictive opioid, with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid many times more potent and deadly, is indicative of a disturbing trend in drug trafficking that has contributed significantly to the opioid epidemic ravaging communities across the United States.
The prosecution of this case was led by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty. The successful outcome reflects the concerted efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, to address the scourge of opioid trafficking and use. United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan, in announcing the sentencing, praised the investigative work that led to Cross’s prosecution, emphasizing the commitment of federal and local authorities to combating the distribution of narcotics.
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