https://www.wtaj.com/news/regional-news/man-sentenced-for-trafficking-chinese-sourced-fentanyl-into-pittsburgh/

A lengthy prison sentence was given to a former Pittsburgh resident after he was convicted for large-scale fentanyl trafficking and money laundering.

Paris Carter, 35, was sentenced in federal court to 34 years in prison with lifetime supervised release to follow. According to United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan, a federal jury in Pittsburgh found Carter guilty of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

“Today, a federal judge imposed a 34-year prison sentence, an appropriate punishment for a defendant who flooded the Pittsburgh area with kilogram quantities of Chinese-sourced fentanyl,” U.S. Attorney Olshan said. “Holding the most dangerous and prolific drug traffickers accountable to the fullest extent of the law is and will remain a top priority for our office and our valued partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement.”

From January 2017 to February 2018, Carter was found to have arranged for fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl to be illegally imported from China into Pittsburgh and then arranged to distribute them in the area.

Carter then moved to Beverly Hills, California where U.S. Attorney Olshan said he lived a life of luxury. He was found to have rented two homes for over $10,000 per month and leased two Bentleys and a Mercedes Benz.

According to information provided to the court, Carter laundered his money through others by having them “initiate financial transactions in their names to pay for the drugs obtained from China.” Seven other individuals were also given drug money which was used to buy cashier checks that Carter used for down payments on his vehicles.

Carter was previously convicted in the Western District of Pennsylvania of possession with the intent to distribute heroin and sentenced to 37 months in prison in 2011.