Score:   1
Docket Number:   WD-PA  2:20-cr-00011
Case Name:   USA v. SMITH
  Press Releases:
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Duquesne, PA, has been sentenced to 22 years' (264 months’) imprisonment and eight years of supervised release after his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone imposed the sentence on Donte Taylor, 37, of 825 Catherine Street, Duquesne, Pennsylvania who was found guilty of possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana.

The evidence introduced during the trial established that on May 10, 2018, Taylor was on parole for a previous drug trafficking conviction when Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole Agents arrived at his residence to conduct a home visit. Agents smelled an odor of marijuana in Taylor’s residence. Taylor’s co-defendant, Ericka Smith, provided agents and Officers with the Duquesne Police Department consent to search the residence. They searched the residence and recovered approximately 279 grams of crack cocaine, 33 grams of cocaine, 56 grams of heroin, 12 grams of fentanyl, 155 grams of marijuana, $14,466, scales, and other drug trafficking materials. This was Taylor’s fifth drug trafficking conviction.

In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Cercone referenced Taylor’s lengthy criminal history and willingness to engage in drug trafficking despite numerous, previous drug trafficking convictions. Judge Cercone also emphasized that Taylor committed the instant offense while on parole and has never accepted any responsibility for his criminal conduct. Judge Cercone remanded Taylor to the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons.

Assistant United States Attorney and Mark V. Gurzo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Duquesne Police Department, and Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole for conducting the investigation leading to the prosecution of Taylor.

PITTSBURGH - After deliberating for two hours, a federal jury found Donte Taylor guilty of one count of violating the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Taylor, 37, formerly of Duquesne, was tried before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that on May 10, 2018, Donte Taylor was on parole. When parole agents went to his house for a routine visit, they smelled marijuana. Agents tested Taylor, and he tested positive for marijuana and cocaine. He also had $540.00 on his person. Parole agents noticed that his girlfriend, Ericka Smith, appeared to be extremely nervous. Parole agents then contacted the local police.

When the police responded, Smith advised that there was a small amount of marijuana in the house and gave verbal and written consent to search. Smith provided a conflicting statement about Taylor’s drug trafficking activities. Smith admitted that it was her house and that it was Taylor’s approved residence with parole.

Officers recovered approximately 279 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $22,000 to $28,000. They also discovered cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana, as well as $14,466.00 in a safe, scales and other drug packaging materials.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for June 5, 2020. The law provides for a total sentence of not less 10 years in prison and up to life, a fine not to exceed $8,000,000.00, a term of supervised release of at least eight years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court ordered Taylor to remain in custody.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Duquesne Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Donte Taylor.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of maintaining a drug premises, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Ericka Smith, age 40, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Court Judge David Cercone.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on May 10, 2018, when parole agents went to the home of Ericka Smith, the lessee of the residence, and parolee Donte Taylor for a routine visit, they smelled marijuana. Taylor tested positive for marijuana and cocaine. Smith appeared to be extremely nervous. Police responded and Smith advised that there was a small amount of marijuana in the house and gave consent to search. Officers recovered crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana. They also recovered $14,466.00 in a safe, scales and other drug packaging materials. While speaking with agents, Smith stated that she would take the charges because Taylor needed to be home with the kids. She also inquired about what penalty she would face if she said the drugs recovered belonged to her.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for May 21, 2020. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, 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.

Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Smith remain detained.

Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Duquesne Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Smith.

PITTSBURGH, PA - Two residents of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on September 18 and unsealed today, named Donte Taylor, age 36,and Ericka Smith, age 38, as defendants.

According to the indictment presented to the court, on or about May 10, 2018, Taylor possessed with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and quantities of mixtures and substances containing detectable amounts of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance and marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance. The indictment charges Smith with aiding and abetting Taylor with commission of the offense.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Duquesne Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

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

Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e97nLgLs_wCTS1hJJVofZRJHNl6v0ewpr9QLT9IWYHY
  Last Updated: 2023-11-03 05:51:30 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The number of days from the earlier of filing date or first appearance date to proceeding date
Format: N3

Description: The number of days from proceeding date to disposition date
Format: N3

Description: The number of days from disposition date to sentencing date
Format: N3

Description: The code of the district office where the case was terminated
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant at the time the case was closed
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense that carried the most severe disposition and penalty under which the defendant was disposed
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE1
Format: N4

Description: A code indicating whether the prison sentence associated with TTITLE1 was concurrent or consecutive in relation to the other counts in the indictment or information or multiple counts of the same charge
Format: A4

Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N4

Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N3

Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE1
Format: N8

Description: The total prison time for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and prison time was imposed
Format: N4

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
F U C K I N G P E D O S R E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E