Monessen man convicted of dealing heroin
A jury convicted a Monessen man Wednesday on a federal charge of dealing heroin.
Jurors reached that verdict following roughly two hours of deliberation in the trial of Maurice Frezzell, 34, before U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab in Pittsburgh.
Evidence presented at trial showed Frezzell sold heroin to a confidential informant Nov. 19, 2015, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Officials didn’t specify the location where that purchase occurred.
The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration; Monessen and Canonsburg police; state Attorney General’s office; and Washington County District Attorney’s office and Sheriff’s office; and the Internal Revenue Service.
Schwab scheduled sentencing for April 17.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said Frezzell’s criminal history, which goes back to when he was 12, includes 15 prior convictions, among them two drug-dealing convictions in state court and one in federal court. Officials also said there are drug charges pending against him after multiple drugs were allegedly found at his home pursuant to a recent federal search warrant. Other offenses have reportedly included a sexual assault when he was 12, two assaults on law enforcement and possessing a handgun with an obliterated serial number.
Frezzell previously completed an 80-month federal prison sentence. Schwab ordered that Frezzell remain in a federal detention facility. A violation hearing in light of crimes Frezzell allegedly committed while on federal probation is pending.