Ellwood City Felon Sentenced to 12½ Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 150 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release on his conviction of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Reggie B. Walton imposed the sentence on Derick Davare, age 32.

According to information presented to the court, from in and around 2015, and continuing thereafter to on or about October 22, 2018, Derick Davare conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. Additionally, on or about October 22, 2018, Derick Davare, being a convicted felon, illegally possessed a F.N. (FN Herstal) Five-Seven, 57 Caliber Pistol, a Sig-Sauer P226 9mm Pistol with an obliterated serial number, 5.7 x .28 ammunition and 9mm ammunition. He also possessed additional rounds of ammunition on August 28, 2018. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year to possess a firearm or ammunition.

As part of a related case, Derick Davare’s brother, Drake Davare, was also sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh last week. Drake Davare, 29, also of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to time served, which was approximately 15 months of imprisonment, and three years of supervised release by Senior United States District Court Judge Arthur J. Schwab. Drake Davare was convicted of distribution of cocaine.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway and Marnie Sheehan-Balcon prosecuted these cases on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the Davare brothers. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.