NEW KEN MAN PLEADS GUILTY

A New Kensington man pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to narcotics and money laundering.  Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti announced that 35-year-old James Pinkston entered pleas to three counts of a superseding indictment connected with incidents from August of 2021 to June of 2023.  During that time, he conspired with others to distribute and possess fentanyl and cocaine.  In March of 2023, authorities discovered he was also using a payment app to receive and pay for drugs.  He was one of 35 people indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown.  He is scheduled for sentencing on May 28th and faces between 10 years and life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million or both.