Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Pittsburgh Felon Caught During Foot Chase Admits Illegally Possessing a Loaded Glock Handgun
PITTBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating the federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Derek Reddix, 30, of 1248 Woodland Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on February 23, 2018, Derek Reddix was on pretrial release for two separate state court firearms charges. That day, Pittsburgh Police officers were driving outbound on the 7500 block of Formosa Way when they observed an individual, later identified as Reddix, manipulating what was believed to be a firearm in his waistband. Officers exited their vehicle in order to conduct an investigation. As the officers began approaching Reddix, he fled on foot, running between and behind houses, despite the officers’ repeated and clear orders to "Stop." One officer eventually was able to catch and tackle Reddix. Reddix fell to the ground, while clutching a blue flip phone. Officers handcuffed Reddix, and he stated that he had dropped his other cell phone while running, and asked whether the officers were able to find it.
Officers secured the area where Reddix had been observed running, and they discovered and seized a Glock handgun with a 30-round extended magazine under the rear porch of 7578 Kelly Street. The gun was loaded with one round in the magazine. Within approximately a few feet of the gun, officers also discovered and seized Reddix’s other cell phone. A subsequent search of the cell phone revealed photographs of Reddix holding the Glock.
Reddix is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm, as he was convicted on or about April 21, 2009, in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas of the crime of Firearms Not to Be Carried Without a License, and was sentenced to one to two years’ in jail.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2020, at 2:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Reddix remain detained on the federal firearms charge.
Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Derek Reddix.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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