Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Distributing Oxycodone Pills

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Michael C. Pegher, 46, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count before Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Pegher, from April 2013 to September 2014, unlawfully distributed more than 3,000 oxycodone tablets he acquired by prescription from Alan Barnett, M.D. Alan Barnett entered a guilty plea on August 26, 2016, to unlawfully distributing prescriptions for oxycodone to Pegher and others, knowing that the recipients were drug addicts or were unlawfully distributing the drugs to others. Barnett was sentenced to five years probation, to include eight months of home detention, and 250 hours community service. Barnett was also ordered to pay $50,000 in fines.

Judge Conti scheduled Pegher’s sentencing for June 4, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pegher was released on an unsecured bond pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pegher.