More than a dozen people were charged with shutting down “a major cocaine trafficking pipeline” from Ohio to western Pennsylvania, authorities reported on Friday.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General announced that thirteen people were charged with felony corrupt organizations, drug trafficking offenses, and related crimes following the takedown by numerous agencies, including the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
Investigators said seven “upper-level dealers” from Youngstown, Ohio, transported cocaine and crack cocaine into Butler County, distributing the drugs directly to consumers or through intermediaries. Prosecutors claim the Butler County-based sellers received payment in cash or drugs.”This criminal organization made routine — sometimes daily — trips into Pennsylvania to distribute poisons in our communities,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday stated. “Working with our partners, these arrests effectively shut down a major cocaine trafficking pipeline.”
According to the attorney general’s office, the Ohio dealers are Anthony “Ace” Chilton, Marquel “Money” Winphrie, Reinaldo Rosado Lizardi, Eddie “Ghost” Winphrie, and Jumal McQueen. Two others were not identified because officials are still searching for them.
Jason White, Mylan Green, Daniel Morehead, Brittany Boring, Shaddi Shanaa, and Donald Vargo have also been charged, according to the attorney general’s office.
Sunday described bringing down the “large-scale operation” as “a huge deal.”I mean, any arrest that removes the folks who are bringing the narcotics in from other regions has a direct impact on the supply,” he explained.
The United States Marshals Service is assisting in the ongoing efforts to apprehend all those charged.
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