He is the fifth defendant charged in western Pennsylvania since the creation of a drive targeting opioid trafficking on the darknet.

PITTSBURGH – A St. Petersburg man has pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute opioids, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Robert M. Gilner, a/k/a Gman19635, 30, of St. Petersburg,, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of carfentanil, as well as distribution of quantities of methamphetamine, carfentanil, and ecstasy.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Gilner conspired with others, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of carfentanil. Additionally, on March 10, 2017, he distributed a quantity of methamphetamine and, on March 22, 2017, he distributed a quantity of carfentanil and a quantity of ecstasy to the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 17. The law provides for a total sentence of five years up to life in prison, a fine of $13,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

“Gman19635 is the fifth defendant investigated and charged in western Pennsylvania since Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement initiative in Pittsburgh earlier this year,” U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said. “Through our office’s expertise in opioids and cybercrime, we are aggressively targeting drug trafficking of fentanyl and other opioids on the darknet.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations as part of the J-CODE initiative.

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