A former resident of Homestead, Pennsylvania, Erik Addison, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for violating firearms and narcotics laws. This sentence will be followed by six years of supervised release. The sentencing was announced by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti and imposed by United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan on June 5, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti commented on the case, stating that “Erik Addison’s blatant disregard for the law and the safety of the community—evidenced by shooting at a police officer and engaging in a shootout in broad daylight, all while on federal supervised release for a prior conviction—demonstrates the need to have dangerous criminals like Addison off of our streets.” He added that this sentence highlights the dedication of law enforcement partners in bringing violent traffickers to justice.
Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division, emphasized that “stopping criminals like Erik Addison from endangering our communities is a top ATF priority.” He noted that Addison was armed with a pistol with a machinegun conversion device and carried fentanyl and heroin, posing a serious threat to his neighborhood.
Court information revealed that on May 8, 2023, investigators attempted to stop Addison’s vehicle. In response, he reversed into one law enforcement vehicle and accelerated forward into another before fleeing. During his escape attempt across a bridge, Addison fired at an officer who ordered him to drop his firearm. Judge Ranjan determined that Addison intended to kill the officer when firing.
Addison continued his flight until another officer struck him with a vehicle, pinning him against a building wall. It was then discovered that he possessed a Glock semiautomatic pistol with a machinegun conversion device. A search revealed approximately 28 bricks of heroin and fentanyl along with a loaded magazine in his car.
Following these events, Addison was incarcerated at Allegheny County Jail where he was found possessing synthetic cannabinoids multiple times.
The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Douglas C. Maloney. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended several law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; Allegheny County Police Department; Homestead Police Department; West Homestead Police Department; Edgewood Township Police Department; as well as the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.
