Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Failing to Surrender for 10-Year Term of Imprisonment and Distributing Fentanyl and Heroin While a Fugitive

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to failure to surrender for a term of imprisonment and to violating a federal narcotics law, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Julian Thompson, 33, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to one count of failure to surrender and one count of distributing a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on November 21, 2024, Thompson was sentenced in the Western District of Pennsylvania to 10 years of imprisonment on his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, with the Court granting a request to allow Thompson to self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons at a later date. Thompson failed to surrender on the date instructed, leading to a search and investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force.

In the summer of 2025, authorities learned that Thompson had returned to Pittsburgh and was distributing controlled substances as part of a new drug investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In September 2025, the FBI purchased controlled substances from Thompson, which included a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin packaged across more than 250 glassine bags (with one glassine bag commonly considered a single dose). Authorities then executed federal search warrants upon Thompson and a residence, along with the arrest warrant related to Thompson's failure to surrender. The searches resulted in the seizure of a loaded drum magazine, jewelry, and $65,900.

Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for July 21, 2026. The maximum total penalty for the failure to surrender count is up to 10 years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other offense, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. The maximum total penalty for the distribution of controlled substances count is up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentencing, Judge Hardy ordered Thompson remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Marshals Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Thompson.