A former Allegheny County Jail guard convicted in state court of sneaking drugs into the lockup for sale was sentenced Thursday in a second case, this one a federal prosecution for possession of an illegal sawed-off shotgun.
U.S. District Judge Christy Wiegand gave Lewis Bagnato, 33, a term of 18 months and three years of probation.
Bagnato had previously pleaded guilty to possession of the weapon, which police found at his house in Kennedy after they arrested him in the drug case. It’s a federal felony to possess a sawed-off shotgun.
Bagnato had been charged in the spring of 2021 with providing K2 to an inmate at the jail for him to sell to other inmates. During a search of his house, officers found a 16-gauge weapon in the basement near his tactical gear.
ATF agents said the shoulder stock had been modified so the weapon cannot be fired from the shoulder. The barrel was a little over 9 inches, but the law requires shotgun barrels to be 18 inches.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Risacher said the 18-month term is necessary to promote respect for the law and reflect the seriousness of the crime, considering that Bagnato was a jail guard and also a part-time cop.
Michael Moser, Bagnato’s lawyer, said his client is sorry for what he did and “intends to work hard to stay out of trouble” from now on. He said Bagnato, who lives with his mother, has struggled with addictions to marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, prescription drugs and opiates since he was 15. He said he wants drug counseling in prison and intends to be drug-free when he gets out so he can focus on his future.
In the state drug case, Bagnato had pleaded guilty and received probation.
Torsten covers the courts for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Reach him at jtorsteno@gmail.com.
