Fifteen properties are subject to seizure under laws which require drug traffickers to forfeit property. 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. The brothers' father, Jamie Lightfoot Sr., participated in the ring from federal prison, Brady said. We can help! Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Most of the dealers are street- to mid-level with a few that are upper-level for the Fayette County area. 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. In total, the drugs and money seized equaled nearly $100,000. prisons spend $15M after guards were sickened by K2. 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. 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. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. the largest drug seizures in United States history," U.S. Attorney for the . Taken into custody in North Braddock Monday were Jermaine Clark. to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts. In October 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced one of the largest drug busts in history. Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience. 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 . A former Monessen man pleaded guilty to helping to run one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in the history of Southwestern Pennsylvania. At least 29 people were arrested in a roundup that started at 6 a.m. The operation involved around 80 investigators from nine . Jermaine Clark and Terry Suggs Jr. were booked into Allegheny County Jail on drug and conspiracy charges. The investigation began in the winter of 1988 with a street-level buy by a Philadelphia police officer, the state police said. NEW YORK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - U.S. law enforcement officials seized more than one ton of cocaine allegedly shipped to the New York area from Puerto Rico, the largest bust of the drug in the. The meth was still hot, Fountain said. 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. Taylor is a convicted felon who is barred from owning a gun. The warranted search led to the discovery of multiple drugs, guns, vehicles, and more than $545,000 in cash on Mar. Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. 1 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. The arrests include Lawrence Pirollo of Philadelphia and John Gatto of Somerdale, N.J., identified by federal investigators as top managers of the ring. She admitted they may not all be apprehended in one day or two days. Lock FBI, Pittsburgh police announce bust of large local fentanyl distribution ring. And you will go to jail, he said. 700 Grant Street, Suite 4000 "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. Statistics and Facts About Binge Eating Disorder, Almond Mom Yolanda Hadid Fuels Diet Culture. She has produced a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. Operation Tripwire started 2 years ago after the postal service found cocaine hidden in a package. SHARE. A lock ( 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. "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. The Shot Boyz street gang and its associates flooded our streets with narcotics with no regard for human life, Christman said. The command post for this detail was the Connellsville Fire Station, located directly across Apple Street from the Connellsville Police Station. The Monroeville, Penn Hills, Elizabeth Township, Munhall, and Wilkinsburg police departments worked alongside the Office of Attorney General over the course of this investigation. Dozens of people were arrested and more than 9,000 packets of drugs were seized in a major heroin sweep in Hazelton, Pa. . She added that she feels 70 warrants issued in one day is an impressive amount for a small county. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 team executed arrest warrants for Clark and Suggs Jr. with help from the Pennsylvania State Police and police departments in North Versailles and Swissvale. Fifty-three people allegedly involved in a multi-million-dollar drug ring were indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday on charges of making and distributing methamphetamine, or speed. Subscribe to Pittsburgh Patch for more local news and real-time alerts. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - More than two dozen people have been indicted for their alleged links to an international drug ring in Pittsburgh. 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. These guys are of great interest to the federal government, Zappala said. "This case is another example of how essential law enforcement collaboration is in combatting drug trafficking. ", "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. Heres a more detailed list of what investigators found: The street value of the fentanyl is $1.4 million, AG Shapiro says, who called the bust, "the largest fentanyl seizures by the Office of Attorney Generals Bureau of Narcotics Investigation under the Shapiro administration.. 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. / CBS Pittsburgh. 22 at 8:30 a.m. 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. Ages and addresses of the suspects were not available. 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. "This is a major organization that was trafficking hundreds of kilograms of cocaine across the entire country and has direct ties to the Sinaloan Cartel in Mexico," Brady said. Another lab was in Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County. Police arrested Allan Burnheimer, a 34-year-old from Blacklick, and charged Burnheimer with possession with intent to distribute, and other felonies. Police also seized a kilogram of heroin, 85 pounds of marijuana, an AK-47 rifle and a handgun, Brady said. Taylor has been charged with 10 felonies and five misdemeanors in connection with this investigation, court records show. WPXI Shot Boyz Organization 25 people were indicted as part of a fentanyl trafficking ring. Brady said law enforcement has been going zone by zone and neighborhood by neighborhood to take out street gangs, drug rings and violent offenders. 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. "Although fighting the opioid epidemic remains this office's top priority, this case is clear evidence of a disturbing trend: Cocaine is making a comeback in this region," Brady said. Have a question about Government Services? women's college lacrosse workout program. For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. . "This cooperative effort between the great men and women of law enforcement in our County has kept 2,500 bags containing heroin and fentanyl off of our streets. It had just been cooked.. Murphy told CNN affiliate WSB that it is by far the biggest heroin seizure in Georgia's. 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. Facebook. 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. You will be arrested. Those considered mid-level dealers in Fayette County deal up to $10,000 in drugs. "Most warrants were for delivery or conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance," said Burden. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said drug trafficking is not a non-violent crime. FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Christman called the operation a significant, coordinated effort from federal, state and local officials. Fax:412-644-4549, Johnstown:814-533-4547 Police in Laos have made the biggest single drug seizure ever recorded in Asia, according to the United Nations. Our marketing agency in Pittsburgh is ready to help right now! PITTSBURGHAfter a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Homewood section of the City of Pittsburgh and other communities in the Greater Pittsburgh area, 40 people have been indicted . Zappala said the case builds on collaborative law enforcement work by local and federal officials to keep drugs out of the region. A 26th person, Keith Redman, was also charged with one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition. Their estimated value is $450,000, state police said. 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. byu men's volleyball 2022 schedule; blangolden golden retrievers. We are dedicated to working collaboratively to ensure the safety of communities across Pennsylvania. 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. Also attending were Marino, Preate and officials representing the Philadelphia police, the district attorney, the New Jersey state police, the DEA and the U.S. Attorneys Office. 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