Man on Pretrial Release for Drug Offense Charged with Selling Drug Paraphernalia

PITTSBURGH—An Allegheny County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of criminal contempt and selling and offering for sale drug paraphernalia, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The four-count indictment named Mayank Mishra, 32, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, in and around September 2013, Mishra violated the order setting forth the conditions of release that was issued by the Honorable Maureen Kelly, United States Magistrate Judge. This order was issued on February 26, 2013, in relation to Mishra’s previous charge at Criminal No. 12-135M. The conditions of release that Mishra violated related to the prohibition against violating any federal or state law; the indictment alleges that while on pretrial release, Mishra sold and offered for sale drug paraphernalia. The indictment also charges that from in and around December 2011 to in and around March 2012 and from in and around February 2013 to in and around September 2013, Mishra sold drug paraphernalia, including various substances used to dilute heroin and glassine bags used in the sale of heroin.

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

The Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, consisting of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office; Wilkinsburg Police Department; Allegheny County Police Department; Oakdale Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm,s and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted the investigation leading to the superseding indictment in this case.

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