Pittsburgh Man Pleads to Heroin, Firearms Charges

PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

David Joyner, 26, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin from June of 2019 through December of 2019, before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV. In addition, Joyner accepted responsibility for possessing firearms in conjunction with his heroin trafficking. Joyner is one of seven defendants charged in the Indictment returned in this case.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating a heroin trafficking organization that operated throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. Beginning in July of 2019 and continuing through August of 2019, the FBI received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Joyner was intercepted communicating with his codefendant and coconspirator about purchasing and distributing heroin as well as the purity of the heroin they intended to distribute. Through extensive physical and electronic surveillance, Joyner was observed meeting with his codefendant and coconspirator to facilitate their heroin distribution. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized heroin, firearms, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization, including Joyner.

Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for February 22, 2022. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Joyner remains in custody pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Office of the Attorney General, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the North Versailles Police
Department, the Allegheny County Port Authority Police Department, the Munhall Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Joyner.

This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout
the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.