Pittsburgh man sentenced to more than 3 years in federal prison for drugs, guns

Michael Divittorio | Tuesday, February 22, 2022 9:15 p.m.

A Pittsburgh man has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for violating federal narcotics and gun laws, federal authorities announced Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Don Eric Copeland, 20, possessed illicit drugs with intent to distribute them — crack cocaine and a mixture containing cocaine and fentanyl.

Pittsburgh police seized the narcotics in August 2019 when they raided his Hazelwood home.

Officials said they searched the same house three months later, and Copeland possessed crack cocaine and a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl.

Copeland was one of several people arrested at the time.

On Jan. 1, 2020, Copeland possessed a firearm with an obliterated serial number, officials said.

After serving his prison sentence, Copeland is to serve three years of supervised release.

Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence.