Pittsburgh man sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking (DOJ)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months of incarceration, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Brandon Watson, 20.

According to information presented to the Court, on April 9, 2025, during a traffic stop, Watson was found to be in possession of approximately 45 grams of crack and small quantities of other narcotics consisting of heroin, fentanyl, and medetomidine, as well as a firearm and $1,100 in cash.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that Watson's crime was extremely dangerous and that the crack cocaine that Watson intended to distribute has the ability to wreck lives, families, and communities.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Watson.