22 suspected drug dealers arrested in sweeping Western Pa. raid

Twenty-two of 24 men who federal prosecutors say sold cocaine and fentanyl in Western Pennsylvania have been arrested in a sweeping raid that began last month, according to court documents.

Law enforcement began arresting suspects in late May following a nine-count federal indictment.

They are accused of dealing 5 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms between July 2022 and June 2023, documents unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh show.

The federal indictment included charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute illegal drugs and illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. The indictment was unsealed after prosecutors told a judge that most of the suspects have been arrested and those remaining at large would already know they are wanted.

An agent said in court documents that three of the suspects — William Jones, 28, Tyron Harrison, 30, and Brian Horton, 22, all formerly of Pittsburgh — were stopped in a vehicle on Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood on May 23.

Others named in the indictment included:

• Kevin Rucker, 52, of Pittsburgh.

• Andre Cain, 46, of Pittsburgh.

• William Lewis, 45, of Pittsburgh.

• Lamont Bell, 54, of Pittsburgh.

• Anthony Coker, 46, of Pittsburgh.

• Sean Woody, 32, of Pittsburgh.

• Micah Latimer 22, of Pittsburgh.

• Delano Brown, 36, of Pittsburgh.

• Anthony Lee, 43, of Pittsburgh.

• Jamone Watson, 28, of Pittsburgh.

• Mark Cook, 55, of Clairton.

• Eric Peoples, 46, of Pittsburgh.

• Edwin Peoples, 44, of Pittsburgh.

• Robert Fields, 29, of Pittsburgh.

• Marvin Coates, 49, of Pittsburgh.

• Roy Wood, 47, of Pittsburgh.

• Shawn Norwood, 32, of South Park.

• Marvin Grimmitt, 68, of Pittsburgh.

• Damon Peters, 19, of Pittsburgh.

• Eric Howard, 35, of McKees Rocks.

• Maurice Smith, 28, of Pittsburgh.

It was not immediately known which of the suspects had been arrested and which ones remained at large.

U.S. District Attorney Eric G. Olshan said during a news conference that several of the suspects were associated with the Drizzy Gang, which he called a “violent, drug-trafficking organization operating in the Hill District.”

Investigators recovered “multiple kilos of powder cocaine, several firearms and tens of thousands of dollars in cash” while executing search warrants, Olshan said.

Officials declined to say where the suspects may have gotten their drugs or where they distributed them.

Olshan identified Rucker as a “large-scale distributor of cocaine” in the area who supplied large amounts of cocaine to Coker. Coker then provided the drugs to suspected members of the Drizzy gang, who trafficked drugs and guns and operated an open-air drug market on Watson Street, Olshan said.

Olshan said officials are seeking pretrial detention for many of the defendants.

“When drug traffickers operate with impunity in our communities, ordinary citizens suffer,” he said.

FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall said officials will “continue to do everything we can to ensure the public can live free of fear, violence and intimidation.”

The investigation and arrests involved hundreds of officers and analysts from multiple agencies, including the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sherriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and Penn Hills Police Department.

“Today’s announcement deals a significant blow to a drug trafficking organization that has dealt misery and pain throughout the communities of Western Pennsylvania,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Keith Hart, who heads DEA operations across Western Pennsylvania.

Officials declined to provide specifics about the violence they said has been committed by the Drizzy Gang and suspects involved.

Olshan said additional charges could be forthcoming.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh said suspects found guilty of the drug charges could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10 million fine — or up to 15 years in prison if they have a previous drug felony on their record. Those found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm could face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on those charges.

Nordwall encouraged anyone with information to reach out to law enforcement. People can anonymously call the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) or reach out through Tips.FBI.gov.