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 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 90 months of imprisonment on his convictions for possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Darion Ethridge, 26, on September 14, 2026.

According to information presented to the Court, on June 24, 2021, state and local law enforcement conducted a drug suppression detail in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, after authorities received information that a male operating a black Jeep Cherokee with tinted windows would be bringing 10 bricks of heroin to a hotel. Upon the arrival and parking of the vehicle, a detective positioned his car with lights and siren activated behind the Jeep and exited his vehicle, identifying himself as police and directing the driver to exit. The driver reacted by starting his vehicle, reversing the Jeep into the detective’s vehicle, and driving through the parking lot until law enforcement boxed in the Jeep. At that point, the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot, with officers pursuing and arresting the driver.

A search incident to arrest resulted in the seizure of approximately $3,952. From the vehicle, authorities seized 991 bags of a fentanyl and heroin mixture, a loaded .40 caliber handgun which was determined to have been reported stolen, and a medical marijuana card and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections card both bearing Ethridge’s name. Ethridge had previously been convicted of four felonies in the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

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

United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Monroeville Police Department and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ethridge.