Marijuana dealer shot twice in Cranberry drug deal gets probation

A marijuana dealer shot in the chest during a drug deal in Cranberry three years ago was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to probation on a gun count.

U. S. District Judge Arthur Schwab imposed a 30-month term on Octavio Marinello, 32, of Greensburg.

Marinello had been indicted with Deron Howell, of Swissvale, and Kahlil Shelton, of Duquesne, in 2017.

Howell was convicted of orchestrating the robbery of four professional video gamers in Lincoln-Lemington and the robbery of Marinello with Shelton. Both are in federal prison.

In the Cranberry case, Howell and Shelton arranged to rip off Marinello of 6 pounds of marijuana on Aug. 7, 2017.

U. S. prosecutors said Shelton was the muscle for Howell. The two of them and an unknown accomplice arrived at the home of Brandon Cavey in Cranberry to buy marijuana from Marinello. Shelton excused himself to go to the bathroom and came out with a gun, pressing it to the heads of Marinello and Cavey. A 6year-old child was in the house at the time.

Howell stole the pot, Marinello resisted and Shelton shot him twice in the chest and arm. Surgeons saved his life.

Howell and Shelton were convicted at trial on multiple gun and robbery counts. Marinello pleaded guilty to carrying a gun during a drug deal.

His lawyer said he’s remorseful.

“If there was one day in his life that he could take back, it would be the day that he participated in the marijuana sale that is the subject of his plea,” said attorney Lyle Dresbold in sentencing papers. “On that day, he went from eating pizza with friends to fighting for his life while bleeding out of his chest and arm. His co-defendants, who robbed and shot Octavio, went to trial, where Octavio bravely re-lived his trauma and testified against them.”

He said Marinello immediately took responsibility for his role and the gun.