Man convcited in 1999 Jeannette murder charged with having gun, drugs

A Pittsburgh man who was convicted of killing a Jeannette man in 1999 was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms laws and drug possession, according to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady.

The grand jury alleged that Kalief Jamil Malik Rethage, 39, unlawfully possessed a semi-automatic pistol, a spent cartridge and various ammunition between Sept. 25 and Dec. 10.

Rethage is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because he is a convicted felon. Rethage was convicted third-degree murder by a Westmoreland County jury for the Feb. 26, 1999 shooting and killing of Tywann “Wink” Smith, 26, inside Smith’s home along the 700 block of Scott Avenue. The shooting occurred during a robbery.

The indictment further alleged that on Dec. 10, Rethage was in possession of marijuana.

Brady said the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 11 years in prison, a fine of not more than $500,000, a term of supervised release not more than 3 years, or a combination of the penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency conducted the investigation leading to the indictment with assistance from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the centerpiece of the department of justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.