Drug arrest ends former Belle Vernon man's prison release, adds 2 years to sentence

A former Belle Vernon man was sentenced to two additional years behind bars after Pittsburgh police arrested him on drug-related charges — the same day he began a supervised release from prison.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence Thursday on Eric Seighman, 36, in Pittsburgh.

Seighman previously was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release for conspiring to possess and pass thousands of dollars of counterfeit currency. He was sentenced to an additional 24 months’ imprisonment for prior violations of his supervised release.

Seighman began a new term of supervised release on Aug. 6, the same day Pittsburgh police arrested him on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He faces a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Pittsburgh Municipal Court.

According to evidence presented before Bissoon, Seighman, during the first week of his release, allegedly attempted to smuggle syringes and stamp bags of suspected heroin into the residential re-entry facility where he was staying, and later left the facility without permission.

Bissoon found that Seighman had violated the conditions of his supervised release by committing another crime; unlawfully possessing a controlled substance; failing to notify his probation officer of his arrest; and failing to reside in a residential re-entry facility and abide by its rules.

The judge revoked Seighman’s release and imposed the maximum sentence allowed by law, two years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam N. Hallowell prosecuted the case.