Ambridge Connection
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Social Media
  • Calendar
  • Eat Local
  • Contact Us
  • Heart and Soul
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Social Media
  • Calendar
  • Eat Local
  • Contact Us
  • Heart and Soul

Economy Man Convicted of Drug Dealing Sentenced to Prison

12/15/2014

Comments

 
Picture
By Larissa Dudkiewicz

An Economy man convicted of drug dealing has been sentenced in federal court to 24 years in prison for the unlawful distribution of prescription drugs, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Pittsburgh. 

Picture
advertisement
Pictureadvertisement
U.S. District Court Judge Arthur Schwab imposed the sentence Monday on David Best, 28, of Howard Road.  

On April 10, a federal jury convicted Best on 11 counts related to unlawful distribution of prescription drugs following a 10-day trial in which Best was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and Opana, as well as multiple counts related to large-scale drug trafficking.  

Specifically, according to Assistant United States Attorney Eric S. Rosen, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that Best conspired together with others, from July 2011 to around May 2013, to distribute and possess with intent to distribute large quantities of oxycodone and Opana, both schedule II controlled substances.  

On April 18, 2013 and April 30, 2013, court officials said Best distributed oxycodone and oxymorphone, in the form known as Opana to a confidential informant.    

Further, on three separate occasions, Dec. 1, 2011, Sept. 26 to Sept. 27, 2012, and Feb. 15, 2013, Best burglarized the MedFast pharmacy in Baden and stole a number of drugs, including: fentanyl, oxymorphone, including in the form known as Opana, Ritalin, oxycodone, including in the form known as Oxycontin, methylphenidate, Vyvanse, morphine sulfate, Roxicet, Focalin, methylphenidate, hydromorphone, methadone, and meperidine.  

On two occasions, authorities said Best chiseled through the wall of the neighboring China Garden restaurant into the pharmacy, and on the third occasion, Best broke into the Bo-Rics hair salon, and from there, burrowed directly into the MedFast controlled substances cabinet.  

Picture
advertisement
Picture
Best stole the drugs to distribute them, according to a news release. Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Best, on June 20, 2012, carried and brandished a loaded revolver during his drug trafficking conspiracy.

In that regard, Best held two men hostage at gunpoint after he lured them to his Economy home under the guise that he had a large stash of drugs and money in his room.  Best suspected that these two men were conspiring to steal his drug proceeds, so he preemptively attacked and held them hostage at gunpoint.     

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Schwab highlighted the seriousness of Best’s many crimes and the damage that his drug dealing did to those in Western Pennsylvania.  

Best had argued that his drug dealing resulted from his own drug addiction, however, the court determined the scope of his massive drug conspiracy went far beyond that of an ordinary addict looking to feed their addiction.  Two co-defendants were previously sentenced for conspiring with Best to burglarize the pharmacy. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Economy Police and Cranberry Police conducted the investigation that led to Best's prosecution and conviction.  

Like Ambridge Connection on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Picture
advertisement
Print Friendly and PDF
Comments
    Picture
    Picture

    AC TEAM

    Alan Freed
    Felicia Mycyk

     Joshua Vucetich
    Larissa Dudkiewicz
    Musinga Bayingana

    ​Ryan Donnelly 
    ​

    Picture

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    RSS Feed

_Home I  Disclaimer  I  Privacy  I  Contact Us  l  Advertise  l Donations I Live events
Copyright © 2013- 2017  Ambridge Connection. All Rights Reserved
​Website: Business Liaison
Copyright @ 2020 Business Liaison
Photos used under Creative Commons from garryknight, Predi, erix!, klestaaaaaa, Ravi_Shah, Baugher Webmaster Services, angeloangelo, antonekom, www.tOrange.biz, Fort Meade, Ruben™, mosaic36, janetmck, Sister72, Beverly & Pack, JeepersMedia, torbakhopper, Purple Sherbet Photography, soaringbird, clevercupcakes, slgckgc, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, stillriverside, JalilArfaoui, kennethkonica, Cláudia*~Assad, StockMonkeys.com, KathrynW1, slgckgc, amslerPIX, SonnyVisions Photography, Steven Vance, USDAgov, Accretion Disc, brizzle born and bred, ThoseGuys119, scoop1942, peasap, Vox Efx, blakespot, US Department of Education, StockMonkeys.com, SpecMode, steakpinball, menegue