Date: 04-11-2025

Case Style:

United States of America v. Desmond Dontae Lee, a/k/a Desmond Donte Lee Belton

Case Number:

Judge: Nora Barry Fischer

Court: The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Pittsburgh

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon
McKeesport Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Ammunition Recovered from Apartment Complex Shooting Involving Two Fatalities

A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 10, 2025, to a charge of violating a federal firearms law, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Desmond Dontae Lee, also known as Desmond Donte Lee Belton, 46, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to a one-count Indictment charging Lee with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on March 1, 2023, Lee and his son were both part of a group of individuals congregating outside of an apartment in a McKeesport apartment complex. When the resident of the apartment confronted the group and asked them to leave, one of the group members approached the resident and struck him with a closed fist, which led to the resident shooting and killing his attacker. Lee entered and proceeded through the apartment next to the resident’s, exiting that apartment from the rear, and then approached the rear of the resident’s apartment, firing five rounds from a 9mm semi-automatic pistol into the apartment before fleeing the scene. At that time, Lee’s son shot back at and killed the resident at the front of the apartment. The firearm used by Lee was never recovered, but investigators with the Allegheny County Police Department Homicide Unit collected the shell casings fired from Lee’s gun. Lee was previously convicted on state drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

Judge Fischer scheduled Lee’s sentencing for July 15, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Allegheny County Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lee.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Outcome:

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both

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