Judge Sentences Pittsburgh Heroin Dealer to 8 Years in Federal Prison

PITTSBURGH - A local resident has been sentenced in federal court to 8 years (96 months) imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction of violations of federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Natel Blessitt, 39, of Pittsburgh, Pa.

According to information presented to the court, on March 5, 2014, and again on Sept. 23, 2014, Blessitt distributed and possessed with intent to distribute heroin.

Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Munhall Police Department, Duquesne Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, West Mifflin Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation that led to the prosecution of Blessitt.

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.