10-year sentence for drug trafficking
A Charleroi man has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years in prison.
Rashawn Ford, 28, was convicted for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, according to U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan.
U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence.
On March 13, 2021, a state police trooper initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Ford in Westmoreland County. During the stop, troopers recovered packaged heroin and fentanyl, in addition to a loaded handgun.
Police learned that Ford was staying at a Westmoreland County hotel, where he kept additional controlled substances in his room.
On March 14, 2021, they executed a search warrant of that room, resulting in the seizure of packaged heroin and fentanyl, a handgun loaded with 27 rounds of ammunition and more than $8,600.
Federal and state law enforcement opened a joint investigation into Ford, which culminated in the execution of several search warrants on properties associated with Ford in August 2022.
Those searches resulted in the seizure of packaged heroin, a loaded handgun and over $200,000.
As part of his sentence, Ford forfeited approximately $273,979 that was seized during the investigation.
