[4] Contents 1 Testimony 2 Verdict 2.1 Suspensions 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links Testimony [ edit] These guys are players.. 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. While the state has many notable things that make it special, it is not exempt from the drug trade. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. ", "We wont back down, communities need law enforcement to work together as weve done in Operation Tripwire," Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. Ages and addresses of the suspects were not available. Their estimated value is $450,000, state police said. 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. Operation Tripwire started 2 years ago after the postal service found cocaine hidden in a package. Lock The meth was still hot, Fountain said. Let's Find Out, PA County Wants To Make Its Own Gun Laws After Recent Court Defeat. 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. "I think that's a record," said Vernon. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said drug trafficking is not a non-violent crime. The command post for this detail was the Connellsville Fire Station, located directly across Apple Street from the Connellsville Police Station. The investigation began in the winter of 1988 with a street-level buy by a Philadelphia police officer, the state police said. Murphy told CNN affiliate WSB that it is by far the biggest heroin seizure in Georgia's. 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. Vernon said she couldn't anticipate when the remaining individuals would be apprehended. 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. 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. Cpl. 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 . An indictment is an accusation. Police arrested Allan Burnheimer, a 34-year-old from Blacklick, and charged Burnheimer with possession with intent to distribute, and other felonies. Investigators say the operation is one of the largest ever undertaken in western Pennsylvania. 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. He noted that many drug users are now overdosing on deadly combinations of cocaine and fentanyl. BROOKVILLE, PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced criminal charges against 30 drug dealers in connection with the shipment and sale of $1.6 million in crystal methamphetamine in Jefferson, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk and Forest Counties over the last year and a half. It could not be determined late last night if Pirollo or Gatto were among those arrested. One of the largest drug busts in the history of Pennsylvania was announced by Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday. uss canberra crew list. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. April 14, 2021 / 3:14 AM queensland figure skating. Two indictments led to the charges against the 39 people, one of whom has been in federal prison since the late 2000s and continued to coordinate and communicate with the ring from prison, Brady said. montgomery county, pa drug bust montgomery county, pa drug bust. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The DEA is thankful for its partnerships across Western Pennsylvania. The task force is made up of 35 municipal police officers from all parts of the county. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. A search of the two mens vehicles turned up 23 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the hydraulic traps. Facebook. $500 million Pacific Ocean drug bust 105 ton marijuana drug bust 12 ton Coast Guard drug bust 13.8 . beef brisket wine pairing. Twitter. Police arrested. Officers intercepted a truck carrying 55 million methamphetamine tablets and. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Officials pegged Clark as a head of the trafficking organization and accused Suggs Jr. of being a co-conspirator. 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. The Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force made a record-setting drug seizure over the weekend when investigators discovered $14 million to $23 million worth of fentanyl in a Lynnwood home. 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. The incident occurred on July 11, 1990. 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. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Two are in state prisons in Graterford and Camp Hill. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady says the drug pipeline. Montgomery District Attorney Michael D. Marino said some of the drug ring members used a vacant house on Visitation Road in Evansburg State Park. Taylor is a convicted felon who is barred from owning a gun. Both will be arraigned at the Allegheny County Jail. "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. "The Indiana County Drug Task Force was able to take one tip from a community member and turn it into a very sizable drug bust in a matter of days," said District Attorney Bob Manzi. 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. Another lab was in Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County. If you or a loved one are struggling with drugs or alcohol, call us now! The indictments were the result of a three-year investigation involving state and local police from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 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. 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. La-Verna Fountain, press secretary for the state police, declined to comment on whether this drug ring is linked to other methamphetamine rings in the nation or to past major busts in Pennsylvania. A former Monessen man pleaded guilty to helping to run one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in the history of Southwestern Pennsylvania. 22 at 8:30 a.m. The Monroeville, Penn Hills, Elizabeth Township, Munhall, and Wilkinsburg police departments worked alongside the Office of Attorney General over the course of this investigation. When they left with it, state police pulled them over and confiscated it, said Marino, whose county drug strike force assisted in the probe. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. As a result of a one-year investigation into violations of the Controlled Substance, Drug Device and Cosmetic Act, Prostitution and various other offenses, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Fayette County Drug Task Force and the Fayette County Sheriff's office were attempting to serve warrants Tuesday on approximately 70 individuals in the Fayette County area. Have a question about Government Services? Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Walp said the property and money will be used to fight drugs. 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. All Rights Reserved. She admitted they may not all be apprehended in one day or two days. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - More than two dozen people have been indicted for their alleged links to an international drug ring in Pittsburgh. 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. It stretched from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles and included connections to Mexican cartels. 60 nabbed in massive drug bust By SANDRA K. REABUCK Apr 23, 2008 In one of Cambria County's largest drug investigations, which culminated Wednesday, authorities have arrested about 60. Taken into custody in North Braddock Monday were Jermaine Clark and Terry Suggs Jr. Clark is believed to be the head of the drug trafficking organization, according to the Allegheny County District Attorneys Office. Walp said $108,000 from the governors PennFree anti-drug program was key in the success of the operation. 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. Police also seized a kilogram of heroin, 85 pounds of marijuana, an AK-47 rifle and a handgun, Brady said. Source/Pennsylvania Attorney General A grand jury investigation uncovered evidence of a meth ring that distributed drugs from Philadelphia to towns in Blair County, Pennsylvania, authorities said. Allegheny County District Attorneys Office. 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. Operation Tripwire began shortly after Allegheny Countys designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and represents the most significant HIDTA prosecution to date. 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.". The suspects concealed the large, plastic-sealed packages of cocaine behind the rear passenger seat within the hydraulic traps of Philadelphia-registered vehicles they were driving, police said. the largest drug seizures in United States history," U.S. Attorney for the . It had just been cooked.. For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. We are dedicated to working collaboratively to ensure the safety of communities across Pennsylvania. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. 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. 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