PITTSBURGH, PA. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Western), published as received.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to federal drug and firearm charges, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chad Antoine Lindsay, 35, pleaded guilty to one-count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack; a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine; and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Lindsay also pled guilty to one-count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
According to admissions made during Lindsay’s plea hearing, on June 17, 2025, a resident of New Brighton, Pennsylvania called 911 related to Lindsay damaging her home. The caller reported that Lindsay deals drugs and that he was moving the drugs out of the house into his vehicle. Authorities attempted a traffic stop of Lindsay as he drove his vehicle shortly after it departed the 911 caller’s residence. Lindsay fled in the vehicle before crashing. A search warrant executed upon the vehicle resulted in the seizure of two loaded handguns, over 40-rounds of ammunition, two cellular phones, drug packaging material, over $4,000, about 43 grams of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack, about 343 grams of cocaine, and about 10 grams of fentanyl. Following the search, authorities determined that one of the handguns recovered from Lindsay’s vehicle was reported stolen.
At the time Lindsay possessed the loaded handguns, he had previously been convicted of eight (8) felonies. Under federal law, felons are prohibited from the possession of firearms and ammunition.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2026. The maximum penalty for the drug trafficking crime committed on June 3, 2022, is a term of imprisonment of at least ten (10) years and a maximum of life, as well as a $10,000,000 fine. The maximum penalty for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime is a term of imprisonment of at least five (5) years and a maximum of life, which must be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on the drug trafficking crime. There is also a maximum fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, Judge Wiegand ordered Lindsay remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The New Brighton Area Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
