Penn Hills Man with 3rd Degree Murder Conviction Indicted on Federal Fentanyl and Firearms Offenses

PITTSBURGH - An Allegheny County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotic and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The three-count Indictment, returned on May 19, named Traevon Rasha Nicholson, age 24, of Verona, Pennsylvania, (Penn Hills) as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, on January 26, 2020, Nicholson possessed with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. The Indictment further alleges that on the same date, Nicholson possessed a firearm, an IMEZ/Baikal pistol, in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. The Indictment further alleges that Nicholson possessed that firearm, the IMEZ/Baikal pistol, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a felony, namely, Murder in the Three Degree on July 21, 2015. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a felony from owning firearms.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of $1,500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.