But what if it was just in their heads? 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. 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. These guys are of great interest to the federal government, Zappala said. The Monroeville, Penn Hills, Elizabeth Township, Munhall, and Wilkinsburg police departments worked alongside the Office of Attorney General over the course of this investigation. Erie, PA 16501, 319 Washington Street,Suite 200 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. Posted on 26 Feb in delores winans grandchildren. We are dedicated to working collaboratively to ensure the safety of communities across Pennsylvania. In October 1989, two labs, 30 pounds of speed and a half pound of cocaine were seized. To report drug traffickers abusing the mail, or to report other crimes involving postal employees, contact USPS OIG special agents at www.uspsoig.gov or 888-USPS-OIG.". By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The HIDTA designation of our largest counties enhances our ability to identify and . 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. ", "We wont back down, communities need law enforcement to work together as weve done in Operation Tripwire," Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. Official websites use .gov 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. Dozens arrested, heroin seized in major Pa. drug bust. Fax:412-644-4549, Johnstown:814-533-4547 Four teams were sent to the northern part of the county; one large team was sent to the southern part. Suggs is an alleged co-conspirator. 700 Grant Street, Suite 4000 Walp said the property and money will be used to fight drugs. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Brady said agencies are seeing the drugs come into the area from places like Philadelphia, Detroit, Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown as well as drug cartels in Mexico such as the Sinaloa Cartel. Investigators say the operation is one of the largest ever undertaken in western Pennsylvania. One of the labs, in Philadelphia, is considered the largest methamphetamine lab ever seized on the East Coast and one of the largest, if not the largest, in the country, state police said. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than ten years to a maximum of life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, or both, as to each charged Defendant. Email. The investigation was a five month wiretap investigation, according to law enforcement. "There are no boundaries in law enforcement in Fayette County today," said county District Attorney Nancy Vernon. Officers stopped the RV last November where they found Pedro Blanco, Brian Powell and Troy Rowe trafficking more than 50 kilograms of cocaine from Los Angeles to Jamie Lightfoot's Verona home, according to the indictment. 0 . PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - More than two dozen people have been indicted for their alleged links to an international drug ring in Pittsburgh. 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. romanov fortune in swiss banks. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady says the drug pipeline. She admitted they may not all be apprehended in one day or two days. I hope things like this dont happen on a regular basis.. A federal grand jury has indicted 39 people in a cross-country cocaine ring that flooded Pittsburgh and the Mon Valley with drugs, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said Wednesday. This investigation and prosecution relied on critical partnerships and resources, made available by the Office of National Drug Control Policys designation of Allegheny County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) on September 24, 2018. At least 29 people were arrested in a roundup that started at 6 a.m. The ring was run by brothers Jamie Lightfoot Jr., 25, and Deaubre Lightfoot, 27, according to Brady, and included interstate drug trafficker Don Juan Mendoza, formerly of Lawrenceville, Ga. Brady said the drugs, which included heroin and marijuana in addition to the cocaine, were brought into the area in either a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van or a large RV. Those considered mid-level dealers in Fayette County deal up to $10,000 in drugs. Murphy told CNN affiliate WSB that it is by far the biggest heroin seizure in Georgia's. Arrests made Wednesday morning netted 37 of the 39 individuals named in the two indictments. Operation Tripwire began shortly after Allegheny Countys designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and represents the most significant HIDTA prosecution to date. Zappala said the case builds on collaborative law enforcement work by local and federal officials to keep drugs out of the region. Allegheny County District Attorneys Office. to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts. With help from the FBI and local police, investigators from the District Attorneys Office on Monday arrested two highly sought-after Philadelphia men accused of having deep ties to major drug trafficking operations originating in South America, Zappala said. She described the indictments as the largest methamphetamine bust in state history. 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. Fifteen properties are subject to seizure under laws which require drug traffickers to forfeit property. Facebook. December 09, 2021 at 4:42 pm EST NOW PLAYING ABOVE 16 people in 5 states, including people in Pittsburgh, charged in massive DEA drug bust PITTSBURGH A federal drug investigation lasted. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, 27 Members of International Cocaine Conspiracy That Trafficked Hundreds, Acting United States Attorney Rivetti Announces Implementation of New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, Contract Employee Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Steal Vehicles from Pittsburgh Airports Hertz Car Rental and Transport Them to Nearby States, Duquesne Man Pleads Guilty to Escaping from Reentry Center. The Indictment charges the following individuals with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, from in and around October 2018, and continuing until in and around June 2020: The Indictment additionally charges Defendant Trent with possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, in Western District of Pennsylvania, on or about March 4, 2020. A 26th person, Keith Redman, was also charged with one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition. It. 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. It is organized by the Fayette County District Attorney's Office. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. biggest drug bust in pittsburgh pa. tex watson children; biggest drug bust in pittsburgh pa. May 24, 2022. "Most warrants were for delivery or conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance," said Burden. Please enter valid email address to continue. Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, PA To Consider Adopting Significant Police Protection Measures, What Kind Of Home Can $1.9 Million Buy In Pittsburgh? 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. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. According to authorities, the wiretaps, done in 1989, showed that the speed was delivered to Pirollo and Gatto, who took it to New Jersey to be cut and packaged. Subscribe to Pittsburgh Patch for more local news and real-time alerts. 22 at 8:30 a.m. (Cox Media Group/Cox Media Group). You cant enter the war on drugs with nickels and dimes, he said. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady on Wednesday said a federal grand jury has indicted 39 people accused of being involved in a cross-country cocaine ring that stretched from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. In October 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced one of the largest drug busts in history. PITTSBURGH More than two dozen people were charged in connection with a fentanyl distribution ring stretching across Pittsburgh's eastern neighborhoods and into Wilkinsburg, according to FBI. 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. Attorney General . "We work every day to stop those who bring dangerous drugs and guns into our neighborhoods. 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. 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