Charges dropped against Wilmerding man accused of being part of alleged McKeesport drug ring
Charges were dropped Monday against a Wilmerding man who had been accused in a case against what the state Attorney General’s office called a major drug ring in Allegheny County.
District Judge Eugene F. Riazzi Jr. withdrew all three charges against Kaleb Howard, 33. He had faced two felony charges and one misdemeanor, all for possession or distribution of drugs.
“I’m just happy Mr. Howard’s been cleared,” said Giuseppe Roselli, Howard’s attorney.
The state Attorney General’s office declined comment.
Seven men were charged Dec. 30 following an 11-month investigation into drug trafficking in Allegheny County, according to then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who was sworn in this year as Pennsylvania’s governor.
While executing warrants, agents with the AG’s office seized nearly 1,500 grams of cocaine with a street value of more than $147,000, along with 16 grams of crack cocaine valued at $1,600, 8.5 grams of heroin valued at $1,700 and three firearms, Shapiro said.
Authorities said Corry J. Sanders, 52, a Democratic candidate for mayor in McKeesport, was part of the alleged drug ring headed by Curtis Harper Jr., 52, of McKeesport. Also arrested were Howard; Earl McClinton, 30, of McKeesport; Robert McLean, 60, of McKeesport; Isaiah Warren, 53, of Hazelwood; and Ramone Williams, 28, of East Pittsburgh.
Aside from Howard, the other men are in various stages of awaiting court dates. Howard is the son of Sanders, attorneys for the two men said.
Justin Vellucci is a TribLive reporter covering crime and public safety in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. A longtime freelance journalist and former reporter for the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, he worked as a general assignment reporter at the Trib from 2006 to 2009 and returned in 2022. He can be reached at jvellucci@triblive.com.
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