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Press Release

Clairton Felon Sentenced for Drugs and Guns

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to 199 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervision by United States Probation Officers, as a result of violating federal firearm and drug laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Dwight D. Henley, 38, formerly of Clairton, Pa., received the sentence after previously pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it, before United States District Judge Mark Hornak.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Henley was previously convicted of a total of 16 counts at six different cases in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. These convictions included drug offenses (12 counts), Terroristic Threats (one count), DUI (two counts), and Criminal Use of a Communication Device (one count). Each of these offenses was serious enough to preclude him from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

The Court learned that Henley was on state parole for his prior crimes when parole officers located marijuana in his house on February 23, 2015. As local police officers obtained a search warrant to search the entire residence, Henley admitted that he had marijuana, as well as a gun in the house "for protection." The search warrant revealed a loaded semi-automatic pistol, ammunition for two different guns, approximately 1.5 pounds of marijuana, over $2,100 in cash, three cellphones, two iPads and a laptop. Testimony from a prior hearing indicated that Henley was associated with the Ruff Ryders and Maxx’d Out motorcycle groups.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Judge Hornak noted that since the defendant is an Armed Career Criminal with at least three prior convictions for serious drug and/or violent felony offenses, the law provided for a total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life imprisonment. The Court was provided with a lengthy Pre-Sentence Report created by the United States Probation Office that detailed the defendant’s background, including his criminal, educational, family, and work history, before determining that the 199-month sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary.

The defendant has been incarcerated in the custody of the United States Marshal Service since the time of his federal arrest.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Henley, with the valuable assistance of agents from the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and police officers from the Clairton and Elizabeth police departments. United States Attorney Brady commended all of the law enforcement officers involved for their cooperative efforts in the successful investigation.

Updated February 15, 2018

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Project Safe Neighborhoods