Sharon man sentenced to prison on drug, gun charges

PITTSBURGH (WKBN) — A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to federal prison for committing cocaine trafficking and firearm crimes in Mercer County.

Raymond Briskey, 38, previously pleaded guilty in this case to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, as well as possessing a firearm, on Oct. 21, 2020. He was sentenced to 65 months — just over five years — in federal prison by United States Senior District Judge Joy Flowers Conti on Thursday.

Prior to sentencing, the Court was informed that at the time of the crimes, Briskey had outstanding bench warrants for failures to appear in court to address drug trafficking and theft charges in two counties in Ohio and to be sentenced for contraband and drug convictions in two cases in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

According to the press release, Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Agencies that include the Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives helped investigate this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence.

Michael Reiner contributed to this report.

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