Clairton Woman Allowed Her Home to be Used for Her Brother’s Drug Trafficking Activity

PITTSBURGH, PA. - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to maintaining a drug-involved premises, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Jalea Carter, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of using or maintaining a drug-involved location, between March and June 2017, as a place for the storage, packaging and distribution of narcotics. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Carter occupied the residence located at 804 Third Street, Clairton, Pennsylvania, and made her residence available for her brother, codefendant Skyler Carter, to store and distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine. In connection with the guilty plea, Carter acknowledged her responsibility for the intended distribution of the 4.5 grams of heroin seized by federal agents from her home on June 28, 2017. She is the eleventh of 21 defendants charged in the case to enter a plea of guilty.

Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled sentencing for September 18, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000.00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Carter remains on bond pending the sentencing hearing.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.