PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a  charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.  

Dontae Blackshear, 25, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J.  Schwab to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine between May 2021 and October 2022.  

Blackshear was charged as part of a drug-trafficking crew operating in Mercer and Lawrence  counties in the Western District of Pennsylvania. As part of his plea agreement, Blackshear  stipulated that he was responsible for conspiring to distribute 20 grams of fentanyl and 100 grams of  cocaine. Blackshear has a prior state court felony drug-trafficking conviction from 2021 involving  fentanyl and heroin, for which he was sentenced to one to two years in prison and was on parole 

when he committed the federal drug-trafficking crime.  

Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for October 16, 2024. The law provides for a maximum  total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal  Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based on the seriousness of the offense  and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Blackshear remains detained pending sentencing.  

  

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the  United States. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States  Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County  Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police  Department, and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the conviction of  Blacksjustice