Federal prosecutors declared that they had charged 19 individuals from Ohio, Michigan, and western Pennsylvania for involvement in a significant multi-state drug trafficking ring.
A one-count indictment accusing all 19 of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin, and an amount of oxycodone between August 2023 and July 2024 was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania on August 1.
The operation, according to the prosecution, was centered on purchasing drugs in Detroit, Michigan, and New Castle, Pennsylvania. A number of runners traveled back and forth between the two cities in addition to bringing drugs into the country from other locations.
In March 2024, the group came under investigation after one of its members, Christian Frierson, a 33-year-old Detroit resident, was detained while returning from a drive near Omaha, Nebraska, carrying a safe that had about 250 grams of heroin and 1,000 grams of fentanyl. Frierson was coming back from California.
Prosecutors said that once he was freed, they utilized wiretaps, informants, controlled purchases, and other methods to obtain proof on the group. They discovered that the group hired individuals from Detroit to manage drug “trap houses” in New Castle.
“Multi-state and multi-jurisdictional operations like what took place today show that the FBI and our partners stand shoulder to shoulder when it comes to keeping this poison out of communities everywhere,” FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek stated. “The message to those who want to peddle illegal drugs and guns is clear: we will not stand idle while our neighborhoods are held hostage by crime.”
- Kenneth King, 37, New Castle, PA
- Jermain Lett, 52, Detroit, MI
- Marcus Mason, 32, New Castle, PA
- Daniel Rasnick, 27, New Castle, PA
- Kendra Sager, 32, New Castle, PA
- Jauan Searcy, 42, New Castle, PA
- George Wyatt, 62, New Castle, PA
- Tyrone Davis, 35, Detroit, MI
- Edward Dietrich, 29, New Castle, PA
- Alexis Donnell, 55, New Castle, PA
- Dedric Higginbotham, 55, Detroit, MI
- Kiara Jones, 24, New Castle, PA
- Quinten Jones, 38, Detroit, MI
- Christian Frierson, 33, Detroit, MI
- Devail Adams, 54, Oak Park, MI
- Christopher Barton, 24, New Castle, PA
- Patrick Brown, 32, Detroit, MI
- Roy Brown, 55, Westland, MI
- Frank Christian, 51, Youngstown, OH
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Each defendant, if found guilty, could get a term ranging from 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. The exact penalty will depend on the gravity of the offense committed and any previous criminal history.
