PITTSBURGH, PA — Anthony Besiso. 62 years of age, of New Brighton entered a guilty plea to a charge of drug trafficking on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The announcement came from United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan following the plea before United States Senior District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
Besiso admitted to possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a potent and illegal stimulant classified as a Schedule II controlled substance due to its high potential for abuse and dependency. This plea emerges as part of a broader investigation by the Beaver County Anti-Drug Task Force into a drug trafficking ring that operated in New Brighton between June 2021 and January 2022.
The court was informed that Besiso played a crucial role in this operation by acquiring methamphetamine from a source in Ohio and distributing it to sellers within the Western District of Pennsylvania. His involvement in the drug trafficking organization was substantiated through controlled purchases and surveillance operations conducted by law enforcement.
A pivotal moment in the case occurred on January 28, 2022, when a federal search warrant led to a raid on Besiso’s residence. The operation resulted in the confiscation of approximately 103 net grams of methamphetamine alongside three digital scales, tools commonly associated with the distribution of illegal drugs.
Judge Fischer has set the sentencing for July 19, 2024, where Besiso faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine reaching $1 million. The severity of the sentence will be determined based on the gravity of the offense and Besiso’s previous criminal record, if any exists.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is leading the prosecution, highlighting the collaborative efforts of the Beaver County Anti-Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in dismantling networks that contribute to the methamphetamine crisis.
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