A Castle Shannon resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges related to narcotics and firearms violations, according to an announcement by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
The indictment identifies Vaughn James, aged 40, as the sole defendant. It states that on June 14, 2023, James allegedly intended to distribute various drugs including fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, protonitazene, heroin, MDMA, cocaine, and crack cocaine. Additionally, he is accused of possessing a firearm to further his drug trafficking activities and having a firearm and ammunition despite previous felony convictions for state drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The potential penalties for these charges include a minimum sentence of 20 years up to life imprisonment and fines reaching $10.5 million. The final sentence will depend on the severity of the offenses and James' criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is handling the prosecution. The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division’s Southwest Strike Force Unit along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a strategy to enhance PSN focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.