10/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/30/2024 15:14
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of narcotics trafficking related to a six-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Clearfield counties, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Douglas Hillegass, 62, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Hillegass was a methamphetamine distributor who obtained approximately six ounces of methamphetamine from Jason Lynn, a large-scale narcotics distributor. Hillegass then redistributed the methamphetamine to other individuals.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for Hillegass for February 26, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, 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.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pennsylvania State Police.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.