A Pittsburgh resident, Dante Webb, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations. The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti and imposed by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Following his prison term, Webb will also serve five years of federal supervised release.
Webb's sentencing follows a significant seizure in 2022, where law enforcement confiscated over 26,000 doses of illegal narcotics and eight firearms from his residence. "The seizure...speaks to how dangerous a criminal Webb has been," said Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti. He added that the sentence reflects the serious nature of Webb's conduct and emphasized the commitment to prosecuting armed drug traffickers.
The court heard that on June 3, 2022, police responded to a call at Webb's residence where he fled upon their arrival. A search warrant led to the discovery of controlled substances including fluorofentanyl, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine. Eight firearms were found in the residence; two were ghost guns without serial numbers.
Webb was previously convicted twice for aggravated assault related to shootings in Allegheny County. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On June 7, 2022, Webb was located and arrested after attempting to flee from law enforcement in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield area. Upon arrest, authorities seized $6,000 in cash and more controlled substances.
Judge Ranjan highlighted the dangers posed by fentanyl and noted that drug dealers like Webb who use firearms present significant risks to communities. He remarked on Webb's lack of remorse for his actions during sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Justin E. Lewis prosecuted the case with assistance from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.