Crime & Safety

Violent Heroin-Trafficking Ring Had Ties to Penn Hills, Monroeville

Authorities said the 18 suspected drug dealers plotted to rob and murder a rival heroin dealer in an effort to profit from and control heroin trafficking in Wilkinsburg.

Article by Editor Larissa Dudkiewicz

Charges were filed Thursday against 18 suspected drug dealers as part of an ongoing investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office and Allegheny County Police into a violent heroin trafficking organization operating in Wilkinsburg.
 
A series of homicides and shootings in Wilkinsburg believed to be related to heroin trafficking prompted the investigation, which began in 2012 when the Allegheny County Narcotics unit made a series of arrests for heroin distribution in Wilkinsburg and surrounding communities, a press release said from the attorney general's office.

The investigation used a series of court-ordered wiretaps, undercover drug purchases, controlled buys and search warrants that revealed suspected members of the "Wilkinsburg Crew" plotted to rob and murder a rival heroin dealer in an effort to profit from and control heroin trafficking in Wilkinsburg.
 
A statewide investigating grand jury presented with evidence and testimony recommended the charges that were filed today.
 
Authorities said the central figure of the "Wilkinsburg Crew" was Julian Thompson, 20, of Wilkinsburg. 

The organization is accused of being a major supplier of heroin in other communities including Churchill, Penn Hills and Monroeville, selling an average of 50 bricks, or 50 individual bags, of heroin per week that were stamped or marked with brand names that included: "MMG," "VIP," "HITMAN," "MASERATI," "BAD BOYZ," "HARLEY-DAVIDSON," "SUPER BOWL" and "EXXON."
 
According to investigators, Garnett Long-Parham, 27, of Monroeville supplied much of the heroin, traveling once a month to Newark, NJ to purchase an average of 1,500 bricks stamped and ready for distribution. He then sold the heroin to other crews and dealers in Wilkinsburg, police said.
 
While executing a series of search warrants at homes and vehicles linked to the suspects, police said a fully-loaded Rock River Arms AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle was seized along with four handguns, one of which was reported stolen. Police also seized about 270 bricks of heroin with an estimated street value of $94,500; about $95,671 in cash; and more than a half kilogram of powder and crack cocaine.
 
Police said the "Wilkinsburg Crew," whose members averaged around 21 years old, used children as young as 13 to run heroin to buyers and cash to dealers at various locations in the area.
 
According to a news release, many of the heroin buyers came to Wilkinsburg from neighboring Westmoreland County, where there have been 20 heroin-related deaths so far this year in that county alone.
 
The following charges were filed before Monroeville District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst:

  •  Julian Thompson, 20, of Village Drive, Wilkinsburg, two counts of criminal conspiracy, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization and one count of delivering heroin.
  • Jasmine Carter, 23, address unknown, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin.
  • James Shanks, 23, of Gilmore Street, Pittsburgh, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Andre Brown, 21, of Besemer Street, Pittsburgh, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Gregory Nash, 33, N. Graham Street, Pittsburgh, one count of criminal conspiracy. 
  • Garnett Long-Parham, 27, of Stonecliffe Drive, Monroeville, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Vadol Lewis, 20, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  •  Kyland Napper, 20, of Ella Street, Wilkinsburg, one count of heroin delivery and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Kyle Wilson, 19, of Lindsay Road, Wilkinsburg, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Eric Newsome, 21, of Deborah Jane Drive, Pittsburgh, one count of delivering heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin. 
  • Emmett Wilson, 21, of Village Drive, Pittsburgh, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, two counts of delivering heroin, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of possession of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.
  • Jonas Gillespie, 20, of Brushcliffe Road, Pittsburgh, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Dalemar Satchell, 20, of Johnston Road, Penn Hills, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Reginald Freeman, 21, of Grandview Avenue, Penn Hills, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin. 
  • Tyree Young, 22, of Card Street, Wilmerding, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Michael Barr, 25, of Joshua Street, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivering heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
  • Nicholas Beck, 29, of Moon Stone Lane, Greensburg, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization and one count of criminal conspiracy.
  • Khiry Thomas, 23, of South Avenue, #2, Pittsburgh, one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin.


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