Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

PITTSBURGH, PA – After deliberating for approximately five hours, a federal jury found Price Montgomery guilty of violating federal drug, firearms, witness tampering and money laundering laws and James Perrin guilty of violating federal drug and firearms laws. Montgomery’s conviction for killing a federal witness carries a mandatory life sentence.

"Today, justice has been served in the murder of federal witness Tina Crawford. Twelve citizens in western Pennsylvania found Price Montgomery guilty of the murder of Ms. Crawford and the attempted murder of Patsy Crawford in the same attack," stated U.S. Attorney Brady. "The Department of Justice mobilized all available resources in the investigation of Ms. Crawford’s murder and today’s result is a testament to the tireless efforts of a team of prosecutors and law enforcement agents."

Montgomery and Perrin were also convicted of operating a drug conspiracy which distributed over a kilogram of heroin in the Pittsburgh area.

Montgomery, formerly of William Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Perrin, formerly of Sherman Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were tried before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak. Assistant United States Attorneys Shaun E. Sweeney and Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

According to evidence presented during the trial, from April 2013 until June 2014, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Montgomery and Perrin conspired to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. On June 8, 2014, Montgomery and Perrin, who both have prior felony convictions, possessed 16 firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. Montgomery also conspired to commit money laundering by using the proceeds of his illegal drug trafficking to purchases items, including cars and lease-to-purchase agreements on homes. Finally, the evidence proved that approximately an hour before Tina Crawford was scheduled to appear at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to discuss her role as a courier in the Montgomery drug distribution organization, Price Montgomery shot and killed her and wounded her mother, Patsy, in the garage area of the Hill District home they shared.

The law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison for Montgomery. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000 or both for Perrin. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Western Pennsylvania office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation led the investigation, assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, conducted the investigation leading to the convictions in this case.

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