A federal judge on Monday granted U.S. prosecutors a fifth time extension for filing a potential indictment concerning drug-related charges against Shawn Denning, the former Greensburg police chief.
A criminal complaint charging Denning with two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine and three counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine was initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Jan. 17 in federal court in Pittsburgh.
He was arrested at Greensburg City Hall and resigned from the police force.
Denning, 42, of Delmont also is charged with conspiring to distribute controlled drugs from about June 2021 through October 2022, according to the complaint.
Denning is accused of connecting a confidential DEA source with out-of-state suppliers from whom the source purchased drugs as part of an investigation of Denning, the complaint indicates.
Denning also is accused of providing the source with menus and prices of available drugs, vouching for the drug suppliers and indicating he would vouch for the source with the suppliers so they would do business with the source.
Monday’s order, signed by Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan, extended the time to file an indictment in the case to Dec. 22.
The order noted Denning had waived his right to the normal time period for prosecutors to file an information or indictment in the case. His attorney, Steven Townsend, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the extension.
Spokesperson Tamara Collier said U.S. prosecutors had no comment about the time-extension requests.
Following Denning’s resignation, Westmoreland County detectives completed an audit of the Greensburg police department evidence room and subsequently accused Denning of taking from the room a backpack containing suspected steroids and psilocybin mushrooms that was to have been destroyed. Denning waived arraignment on misdemeanor charges of theft, conspiracy and tampering with evidence, which are pending in Westmoreland County Court.
Denning remains free on unsecured bond in both the federal and county criminal cases.
