City man pleads guilty to federal drug charge
A Washington man pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Richard Lassic II, 43, formerly of Shannon Avenue, pleaded guilty to one count before U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon in Pittsburgh.
Lassic was one of 17 people indicted as a result of an investigation from June to November 2015, using various investigative techniques including court-authorized wiretaps. Lassic was intercepted over a co-conspirator’s phone between August and October 2015 while he was purchasing multiple ounces of powder cocaine and crack cocaine.
On various dates, Lassic purchased cocaine and crack cocaine, which he referred to as various types of Adidas shoes. On October 6, 2015, Lassic purchased about 4.5 ounces of cocaine and crack cocaine for $5,900. He was subsequently pulled over on Interstate 70 by a state trooper for vehicle code violations. Lassic consented to a search of his car, during which the trooper located three plastic bags containing about 124 grams (almost 4.5 ounces) of cocaine.
Based on intercepted calls, Lassic obtained well over 500 grams of cocaine from a co-conspirator during the period.
Bissoon scheduled sentencing for Aug. 30 and ordered Lassic remain detained.