Date: February 9, 2023 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov PITTSBURGH — After deliberating for approximately 90 minutes, a federal jury yesterday found Omari Patton guilty of five counts related to attempting to provide to a federal inmate or obtain as a federal inmate a Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substance in federal prisons, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today. Omari Patton, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was tried before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The evidence presented at trial established that in September and October 2018, Patton, who was incarcerated at the Fort Dix, New Jersey, federal prison, directed his son, Dashawn Burley, who resided in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, to mail three envelopes to Patton at the Fort Dix prison and two envelopes to another federal inmate at the Ray Brook, New York, federal prison. All five of these envelopes, at Patton's direction, were disguised by Burley to appear as if they were "legal" mail sent by a fake attorney. However, each envelope contained paper that had been saturated with a Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substance, commonly referred to as "K2 paper" or "deuce," potent synthetic drugs, which law enforcement officers testified disrupts prison life and threatens the health and safety of inmates and staff members. Mr. Burley, who was also charged for his involvement in the offenses, pled guilty prior to opening statements on Tuesday, February 6, 2023, to two counts of attempting to provide to a federal inmate a Schedule I synthetic cannabinoid controlled substance in federal prisons. Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for Patton on June 15, 2023. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 50 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,250,000. Under States Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Judge Stickman also scheduled sentencing for Burley on June 8, 2023. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Under States Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Patton would remain detained and the court continued Burley's bond. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig W. Haller and Rebecca L. Silinski are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General led the multi-agency investigation that also included the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Beaver County District Attorney's Office, the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Pittsburgh Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Munhall Police Department, the Robinson Township Police Department, the McKees Rocks Police Department, the Stowe Township Police Department, the Etna Police Department, and the Erie County District Attorney's Office. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
