Fax:412-644-4549, Johnstown:814-533-4547 SHARE. Both defendants have been charged with Possession, Possession with intent to deliver, Conspiracy and criminal use of a communication device. At one Philadelphia lab alone, 800 pounds of speed with a street value of $18 million were manufactured, Fountain said. The Shot Boyz street gang and its associates flooded our streets with narcotics with no regard for human life, Christman said. PITTSBURGH, PA - Twenty-seven members of an international drug organization were indicted by a federal grand jury for trafficking significant quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. This may be the biggest meth bust in American. It stretched from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles and included connections to Mexican cartels. Have a question about Government Services? It was. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - More than two dozen people have been indicted for their alleged links to an international drug ring in Pittsburgh. First published on September 4, 2020 / 4:45 PM. Later searches of the homes and vehicles of others involved in the ring turned up more drugs, 11 firearms and more than $1 million in cash. These drugs then ended up on the streets of Pittsburgh. The two-year investigation, called Operation Heavy Hand, included the FBI, state police, and police in Pittsburgh, South Strabane, Elizabeth Borough, Penn Hills and Perryopolis. During the investigation, a total of 56 pounds of speed with a street value of $1.27 million was confiscated, along with $167,000 in cash and a pound of cocaine. montgomery county, pa drug bust montgomery county, pa drug bust. . U.S. Attorney Scott Brady says the drug pipeline started with Mexican cartels, which sent large quantities of cocaine into the U.S. through California and Arizona. Allegheny County District Attorneys Office. Investigators say they believe that, since at least 2017, the drug ring involving Clark and Suggs Jr. has brought hundreds of kilograms of cocaine worth tens of millions of dollars from the city of Philadelphia into Western Pennsylvania neighborhoods. Todd Moses of Decatur, Ga., and originally from Donora, remains on the run. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. Jamaal Maragh (a/k/a Alrick Williams a/k/a Frederick Vanlierop), 38, of Turtle Creek, PA; Noel Perez Aguilar (a/k/a Venado), 48, of Los Angeles, CA; Juan Carlos Alejandres, 26, of Los Angeles, CA; Ramon S. Araiza-Vega, 27, of Rio Rico, AZ; Jose D. Delosrios Benitez (a/k/a McQueen), 30, of Inglewood, CA; Johnny Bravo, Jr., 32, of Los Angeles, CA; Antonio Egurrola-Gamboa (a/k/a Chango), 32, of Tucson, AZ; Roberto Egurrola-Vasquez (a/k/a Gordito), 32, of Tucson, AZ; Howard E. Johnson III, 30, of Pittsburgh, PA; Alexis A. Perez Lopez, 44, of Los Angeles, CA; Clayton F. Manning, 43, of Los Angeles, CA; Rachel M. Novalesi, 37, of Rochester, PA; Justo Edgardo Parra Jr., 28, of Nogales, AZ; Odean Samuels (a/k/a Martin ONeil, a/k/a Smokey), 32, of Canoga Park, CA; Manuel Silvestre, 49, of Los Angeles, CA; Steven L. Trent Jr., 50, of Penn Hills, PA; Darrick Watkins, 50, of Los Angeles, CA; and. ", "Today the DEA District Office in Pittsburgh, the United States Postal Services Office of Inspector General, and our other law enforcement counterparts dismantled an international cocaine drug trafficking organization that operated in Los Angeles, Tucson, and Mexico," said Jonathan A. Wilson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. On Wednesday, Zappala said his office plans to ask the magistrate judge to revoke the bail of both men to ensure they dont flee the country. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The 50 pounds of cocaine worth $10 million seized in North Braddock this week marked the region's biggest drug bust in recent memory, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala. Please enter valid email address to continue. ", First published on April 14, 2021 / 3:14 AM. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. Suite 115 Walp said $108,000 from the governors PennFree anti-drug program was key in the success of the operation. A 13-count indictment, which included charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, firearms violation and other crimes, named the following 28 people: Don Juan Mendoza, 38, of Lawrenceville, Ga. Jamie Lightfoot, Sr., 46, currently incarcerated at FCI Loretto. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A drug organization accused of funneling fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs into Johnstown from both coasts has been dismantled, resulting in charges against 31 people,. Murphy told CNN affiliate WSB that it is by far the biggest heroin seizure in Georgia's. CLICK HERE to find out how. Taylor has been charged with 10 felonies and five misdemeanors in connection with this investigation, court records show. VA Pittsburgh nurse accused of illegally obtaining opioid painkillers, Because of pandemic, Pittsburgh Fashion Week has virtual look this year, Pitt reports 37 new coronavirus cases over the weekend, 68 in a week, Social media followers, police, lead to discovery of stolen PGH Halal Truck, Mine cleanups in Cook, Fawn townships among those targeted by state program, Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. Five labs where speed was made were shut down during the course of the probe. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our state and local partners to fight Mexican cartels from operating in western Pennsylvania," said U.S. Attorney Brady. romanov fortune in swiss banks. In an unrelated example, Zappala cited the recent temporary closure of a McKeesport bar and pending closure of another bar at the request of the McKeesport mayor to prevent illegal drug activity from happening there. In October 1989, two labs, 30 pounds of speed and a half pound of cocaine were seized. Let's Find Out, PA County Wants To Make Its Own Gun Laws After Recent Court Defeat. ", "We wont back down, communities need law enforcement to work together as weve done in Operation Tripwire," Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. Brady said law enforcement has been going zone by zone and neighborhood by neighborhood to take out street gangs, drug rings and violent offenders. According to Trooper Brian Burden, state police at Uniontown information officer, the warrants were issued for those involved in the sale of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana or prescription medications. Corporate Headquarters: 2023 Cox Media Group. One of the largest drug busts in the history of Pennsylvania was announced by Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday. According to the district attorneys office, it is believed the pair have spent the past two years transporting hundreds of kilograms of cocaine to communities in Allegheny County. Walp said the property and money will be used to fight drugs. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. PITTSBURGH More than two dozen people were charged in connection with a fentanyl distribution ring stretching across Pittsburghs eastern neighborhoods and into Wilkinsburg, according to FBI and local police officials. There were 16.5 tons of the drug found in . The suspects were fingerprinted and processed in the basement of the East Side Fire Station in Connellsville and then taken to area district justices, where their bonds were set. Italian police claim world's largest drug bust after US$1.1 billion of amphetamines seized Jack Guy, Stephanie Halasz, Valentina DiDonato and Gul Tuysuz CNN Digital Contact Published. A search of the two mens vehicles turned up 23 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the hydraulic traps. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. These guys are players.. Those arrested were transported to the Fayette County Prison by the Fayette County Sheriff's office. A notorious drug dealer who got his start during the crack epidemic of the 1980s and was so good at hiding his whereabouts that he was known as "the ghost" has been arrested along with dozens of . Police arrested. The Pittsburgh drug trials are considered one of baseball's biggest all-time scandals, albeit one that was "behind the scenes" and did not affect play on the field. She has produced a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. Following a tip, police stopped a vehicle on Route 22 on April 8, and during a search of the vehicle, they found 50 bricks of heroin and fentanyl. Most of the dealers are street- to mid-level with a few that are upper-level for the Fayette County area. . Operation Crystal Shield involved 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin, and around 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine, making it the biggest meth bust in U.S. history. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Erie, PA 16501, 319 Washington Street,Suite 200 Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience. Both will be arraigned at the Allegheny County Jail. Special agents with the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, using advanced analytical tools, are always on the look-out for those who seek to abuse the mail system by sending drug parcels in the mail," said USPS OIG Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of the Eastern Area Field Office. The Drug Enforcement Administration (in Pittsburgh, PA) and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General led the multi-agency investigation that included members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (in Los Angeles, CA; in Tucson, AZ; in New York, NY; in Nashville, TN; at the Special Operations Division; and in Mexico); the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; the Los Angeles Police Department; the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; the Allegheny County Police Department; the New Castle Police Department; the Monessen Police Department; and the Pennsylvania State Police. We havent taken this much dope off the streets for a long time, Zappala told reporters during an unrelated campaign event at Cupkas Cafe in Pittsburghs South Side Flats neighborhood. Lock Hanging out in the kitchen, a three-foot alligator nicknamed El Chompo by police was caught red handed. On the other side of the state is Pittsburgh, the Steel City known in the past for its tough, blue-collar workforce. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 1 Brian Brooms, Melvin Earl Campbell, Xavier Edward Thomas, Charles Richard Opel, Shannon Angel Stallard, James T. Michaux, Christie Verney, William Lee Friend, Charles Opel, Charles Smith, Donald Ohler, Donald "Junior" Henry, Mark Bell Jr., Melissa Faidley, Jason Motycka, Thomas Eperesi, Ronald Seiko, Lori Newman, Kara Lanphear. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendants. Unfortunately, this scheme has gone on for quite some time, Zappala said. He'd been indicted on federal drug charges years earlier. The DEA is thankful for its partnerships across Western Pennsylvania. "There are no boundaries in law enforcement in Fayette County today," said county District Attorney Nancy Vernon. Twitter. Philadelphia police called in the state police for help and, after multiple street-level arrests, the investigation was expanded into New Jersey. Police also seized a kilogram of heroin, 85 pounds of marijuana, an AK-47 rifle and a handgun, Brady said. In the fall of 1990, the Drug Enforcement Agency told the state police that it was investigating some of the same people as the state police. Zappala said he could not say how the 23 kilograms seized Monday made its way to Philadelphia or entered the United States, noting it may very well have entered through a legal port of entry. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. In all, 17 suspects were stung. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. sinastria di coppia karmica calcolo; quincy homeless shelter; plastic bags for cleaning oven racks; claudia procula death; farm jobs in vermont with housing PITTSBURGH, PA - Two Philadelphia men have been arrested in a massive drug bust in which $10 million in cocaine was seized. Such hiding techniques demonstrate a sophisticated type of organization, Zappala said. Subscribe to Pittsburgh Patch for more local news and real-time alerts. PITTSBURGH - A leader of one of the largest Drug Trafficking Organizations to operate in the Pittsburgh area has pleaded guilty to federal narcotics and firearm charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. The HIDTA designation of our largest counties enhances our ability to identify and dismantle international drug trafficking organizations which pose a serious, sustained threat to our communities. Deabure Lightfoot, 29, Monday in federal court pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady.
