Delaware Man Convicted of Gun and Drug Charges

PITTSBURGH—A resident of Wilmington, Delaware was convicted at the conclusion of a trial in federal court of violating federal narcotics trafficking and firearm laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

On October 30, Keenan Black, 31, was convicted at the conclusion of a bench trial before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab of possessing heroin with intent to distribute, of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

The testimony presented during the trial established that, on January 6, 2011, Pittsburgh Police narcotics detectives caught Black when he had a loaded pistol in a holster on his hip and 749 stamp bags of heroin in the sleeve of his jacket. Black had previously been convicted of committing four felony crimes in four prior cases in Delaware.

Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for March 1, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of at least 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2,500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Pennsylvania State Police; the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office; the Ross Township Police Department; the Canonsburg Police Department; and the Allegheny County Police Department investigated this case.