Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Authorities seized more than 26,000 doses of fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl mixtures, along with packaged cocaine and crack and eight firearms, from defendant’s residence
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug and firearms charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Dante Webb, 43, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture containing fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl; 100 grams or more of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl; a quantity of a mixture containing cocaine base; and a quantity of a mixture containing cocaine. Webb also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession with intent to distribute various quantities of controlled substances.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on June 3, 2022, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police responded to a residence in Pittsburgh, from which Webb fled upon law enforcement’s arrival. After learning that Webb stored both controlled substances and firearms in the residence, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the residence, resulting in the seizure of digital scales, cellular phones, firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a safe from a closet, which contained a garbage bag of packaged controlled substances. Law enforcement seized over 26,000 glassine bags (each generally considered a single dose) from Webb’s residence, which contained mixtures of fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl. Officers also seized packaged cocaine and crack.
In addition to the controlled substances, law enforcement seized eight firearms from the residence, some of which were loaded with attached extended magazines. Two of the firearms were Polymer 80 pistols, which are untraceable due to the lack of a serial number. A forensic scientist examined the firearms and determined that one of these pistols only operated as a fully automatic firearm. Many of the firearms were easily accessible from a duffle bag located under a bed in the residence, and they were recovered in close proximity to the safe containing the packaged controlled substances. Prior to the seizure, Webb was twice convicted of aggravated assault related to shootings in Allegheny County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
On June 7, 2022, law enforcement located and attempted to arrest Webb in the Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh. Webb again fled from police, running in and out of traffic. After falling while jumping a low wall, Webb was arrested, with a search incident to arrest upon Webb’s person and a bag in his possession resulting in the seizure of approximately $6,000, a digital scale, an owe sheet, a flip phone, and packaged controlled substances. The glassine bags seized from Webb bore similar markings to the bags recovered from Webb’s safe on June 3, 2022, and a search of Webb’s phone revealed numerous photographs of Webb posing with large amounts of cash and multiple firearms inside his residence.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2025. The maximum sentence for the drug trafficking crime committed on June 3, 2022, is not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. The maximum sentence for possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime is not less than five years and up to life in prison, which must be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on the drug trafficking crime, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the crime of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, the maximum sentence is up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the drug trafficking crime committed on June 7, 2022, the maximum sentence is up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, Judge Ranjan ordered Webb remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Justin E. Lewis are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Webb.