Former Greensburg police chief pleads guilty in drug conspiracy

A former Greensburg police chief who prosecutors said boasted about his ability to obtain a variety of narcotics pleaded guilty Tuesday to his role in a drug conspiracy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh announced.

Shawn Denning, 43, of Delmont, entered the plea before District Judge Cathy Bissoon to one count of conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine. Prosecutors said the crimes occurred between June 2021 and October 2022. He was charged in January 2023 when he was still the chief.

A news release said Denning admitted that, “while serving as a captain of the Greensburg Police Department and continuing through his tenure as chief of the department, he conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine (in the form of fake “Adderall” pills) and cocaine to individuals in the Western District of Pennsylvania and across the country, including in Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. Denning boasted to a DEA confidential source that he could connect the source with ‘heavy hitters’ across the country who would deliver drugs through the mail, later sending the source drug menus and prices.”

The release said an undercover operation recorded Denning discussing the conspiracy.

It also said he admitted conspiring with former Greensburg Officer Regina McAtee, whom Denning used to purchase drugs from the suppliers.

McAtee was charged separately and is scheduled to plead guilty on May 1, it said.

“Instead of catching drug dealers, Shawn Denning chose to be one by participating in a cross-country methamphetamine and cocaine conspiracy,” U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan said in the release.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for Aug. 13.