Eight pounds of speed was seized from the Montgomery lab, Fountain said. Reach her at 412-380-8519, mguza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @meganguzaTrib. 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Evidence seized during a two-year investigation into a cross-country cocaine trafficking ring that led to the indictment of 39 individuals Tuesday, April 24, 2018. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Investigators say a search of their two vehicles turned up a total of 23 kilograms of cocaine or more than 50 pounds with an estimated Street value of about $10 million. 700 Grant Street, Suite 4000 Fifteen properties are subject to seizure under laws which require drug traffickers to forfeit property. Unfortunately, this scheme has gone on for quite some time, Zappala said. 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. These guys are of great interest to the federal government, Zappala said. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. The 27 people named in the indictment -- including several from the Pittsburgh area -- could face 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000 or both. All told, the amount of cocaine seized had a street value of $2 million. 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. It could not be determined late last night if Pirollo or Gatto were among those arrested. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. 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. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? CLICK HERE to find out how. "(He) was communicating with his sons and the organization and was able to, if not control, coordinate and discuss with members of the organization," Brady said. Big prostitution bust at Pa. hotel nets 17 arrests Pictured are some of the suspects arrested after a major prostitution and drug sting at Monroe County hotel. A locked padlock A drug bust in South Coatesville, Pennsylvania revealed a large stash of crack cocaine, heroin, cash, and one guard gator. queensland figure skating. On the other side of the state is Pittsburgh, the Steel City known in the past for its tough, blue-collar workforce. You can now customize your WPXI News App to receive Allegheny County news alerts. The task force is made up of 35 municipal police officers from all parts of the county. It was used to buy drugs and relocate and protect witnesses. Covid-19 could be making things worse Authorities estimate the value of the drugs at $8.5 million. 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. You will be found. Dozens arrested, heroin seized in major Pa. drug bust. "This investigation dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking pipeline that brought major quantities of cocaine from Mexican cartels, into the United States through California and Arizona, and across the country to the streets of Pittsburgh. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. "I asked for an arrest sweep to show the citizenry that law enforcement is active and involved with drug enforcement," said Vernon, adding the year-long investigation involved undercover work, undercover purchases, officers entering in dangerous places and conducting highly dangerous searches. They were for street- to mid-level drug dealers, he added. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - More than two dozen people have been indicted for their alleged links to an international drug ring in Pittsburgh. 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. WPXI Shot Boyz Organization 25 people were indicted as part of a fentanyl trafficking ring. PITTSBURGH, PA - Two Philadelphia men have been arrested in a massive drug bust in which $10 million in cocaine was seized. Investigators, who had been tracking the pairs movements, pulled the suspects over while they were driving in separate vehicles in North Braddock on Monday after securing warrants for their arrests. Sign up and receive email updates on the latest news, events, and more! Have a question about Government Services? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She described the indictments as the largest methamphetamine bust in state history. This may be the biggest meth bust in American. 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. Police in Laos have made the biggest single drug seizure ever recorded in Asia, according to the United Nations. sinastria di coppia karmica calcolo; quincy homeless shelter; plastic bags for cleaning oven racks; claudia procula death; farm jobs in vermont with housing Four teams were sent to the northern part of the county; one large team was sent to the southern part. The investigation began in the winter of 1988 with a street-level buy by a Philadelphia police officer, the state police said. All the people indicted are from Philadelphia or New Jersey except one man from Florida. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said drug trafficking is not a non-violent crime. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 1:23 PHILADELPHIA Federal authorities have upped the amount of cocaine they seized from a ship at the Philadelphia port to more than 35,000 pounds, or 15,876 kilograms, making it the largest. "Drug traffickers should be put on notice that when we identify a suspicious parcel, we will use all of our investigative resources to identify those responsible. One of the largest drug busts in the history of Pennsylvania was announced by Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday. The warranted search led to the discovery of multiple drugs, guns, vehicles, and more than $545,000 in cash on Mar. He'd been indicted on federal drug charges years earlier. "I think that's a record," said Vernon. Another lab was in Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County. A lock ( Those arrested were transported to the Fayette County Prison by the Fayette County Sheriff's office. Another lab was raided in January 1990. 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. Follow the link to read our updated Privacy Policy, Man Rams Victim With Car, Fires Gun At Him During Argument: Somerset Prosecutor, One Dead, Two Hospitalized, 3 Schools Lockdown After McKeesport Shooting: Authorities, Approximately 14 kilograms, or 700,000 individual doses of fentanyl. prisons spend $15M after guards were sickened by K2. ", First published on April 14, 2021 / 3:14 AM. Fayette County law enforcement officials said Tuesday that they had conducted "the largest drug bust in the county's history.". Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration if you need help for drug addiction at 1-800-662-4357, Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center refused to cooperate with audit, says PA Auditor General. At one Philadelphia lab alone, 800 pounds of speed with a street value of $18 million were manufactured, Fountain said. He has been denied bail and held in the Allegheny County Jail with a preliminary hearing set before Magisterial District Judge Scott H. Schricker on Mar. In total, the drugs and money seized equaled nearly $100,000. Let's Find Out, PA County Wants To Make Its Own Gun Laws After Recent Court Defeat. montgomery county, pa drug bust montgomery county, pa drug bust. Fax:814-533-4545. Confidential agreement uncovered allowed Pa. car show to happen despite COVID-19 restrictions, Allegheny County, WPIAL clarify restrictions on outdoor gatherings of 50 people for youth and high school sports, VIDEO: Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center refused to cooperate with audit, says PA Auditor General, DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts, Alabama man fatally mauled by pack of dogs, coroner says, 3 people dead after 2 separate shootings in McKeesport; scenes not connected, police say, Remains found in New Castle identified as man reported missing in 2013, Man facing charges after police chase on busy Ambridge road, Man found dead in courtyard after shooting in Arlington Heights. While the state has many notable things that make it special, it is not exempt from the drug trade. Domonique Taylor, 37, had his home on Moody Street in Pittsburgh's Braddock neighborhood searched as part of an investigation five police departments were assisting in since Aug. 2021. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala speaks at a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Were committed to the Mon Valley and to the eastern sections of Allegheny County, Zappala said. An indictment is an accusation. BLAIRSVILLE (KDKA) - An investigation that was led by the Indiana County District Attorney's Drug Task Force ended with the largest heroin and fentanyl bust in Indiana County. Brady said 30% of all shots fired calls in the City of Pittsburgh come from Zone 5. Operation Tripwire started 2 years ago after the postal service found cocaine hidden in a package. Zappala said the last time he recalls a similar situation was a bust in Penn Hills, where drugs were hidden within a false bottom in a vehicle. The drug bust was a result of a year-long investigation conducted by the State Police Troop B Vice Unit, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and the Fayette County Drug Task Force. After being contacted by FBI agents in Philadelphia, the District Attorneys Narcotics Enforcement Team began investigating the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh cocaine trafficking ring in July 2018. Our marketing agency in Pittsburgh is ready to help right now! Three of the labs were in Philadelphia and one was in Union County. wpvi. 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. byu men's volleyball 2022 schedule; blangolden golden retrievers. Jermaine Clark and Terry Suggs Jr. were booked into Allegheny County Jail on drug and conspiracy charges. Theyre both accused of participating in a cocaine ring thats been bringing illegal street drugs into communities in Western Pennsylvania for at least the past two years. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady says the drug pipeline. It is organized by the Fayette County District Attorney's Office. 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. 950 N Federal Highway We are dedicated to working collaboratively to ensure the safety of communities across Pennsylvania. 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 . 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