New Castle Felon Sentenced to Six Years of Prison for Narcotics and Firearm Violations

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to violations of federal drug and firearm laws and was sentenced to six years of imprisonment on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Michael Rodich, 41, on July 28, 2025.

According to information presented to the Court, on September 29, 2023, Rodich was arrested by the New Brighton Police Department. At the time of his arrest, Rodich, who was wanted by the Hermitage Police Department on an open arrest warrant, had a loaded firearm in his waistband as well as drug paraphernalia, crack, fentanyl pills, and $2,380 on his person. In his backpack, Rodich also had two baggies of crack, a bag of powder cocaine, a glass container of powder cocaine, stamp bags of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale, a loaded magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition, and 27 rounds of loose ammunition. Rodich was previously convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

In connection with his plea, Rodich admitted to possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime, and to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

In imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that, among other things, "third-party deterrence is very important to this Court" and that perhaps those who are considering committing similar crimes will realize that there are "very significant consequences" if they are caught and will "think differently" before they act.

Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca L. Silinski and Jacqueline C. Brown prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Hermitage Police Department, New Brighton Police Department, and Ellwood City Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rodich.