Recidivist Pittsburgh Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Large-Scale Distribution of Cocaine

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on July 2, 2024, to 15 years in prison on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Kevin Rucker, 53.

According to information presented to the Court, over the course of nearly a year, Rucker supplied multiple kilograms of cocaine to other drug traffickers in the Pittsburgh area. During the conspiracy, Rucker was responsible for the possession or distribution of at least 35 kilograms of cocaine. Rucker was previously convicted in 2015 in federal court in Pittsburgh of conspiring to distribute heroin.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman noted that Rucker was a recidivist drug trafficker responsible for large-scale trafficking in the Pittsburgh area, and that Rucker served as a ringleader in the conspiracy. In addition to the term of incarceration, Judge Stickman also ordered Rucker to serve 10 years of supervised release following his release from prison.

"The successful investigation and prosecution of Kevin Rucker was the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney's Office and multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies," said U.S. Attorney Olshan. "Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the Western District of Pennsylvania from drug traffickers-particularly large-scale, repeat offenders like Rucker-and the harm their criminal activities inflicts on our communities."

Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rucker.

This prosecution is part of two Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations. 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.