Nineteen charged in regional drug ring
UNIONTOWN – The largest illegal drug operation in Fayette County, with ties to Washington and Greene counties, was broken up as 19 people were charged Tuesday for their alleged roles in a 46-person drug trafficking ring, state and federal authorities said Thursday.
U.S. Attorney David Hickton announced the indictments at a news conference at the state police barracks in Uniontown, where officials pointed out six of the 19 accused were from Washington and Greene counties. Area men charged with two counts each of drug possession with intent to deliver were David Crews, 40, of Monessen; Allen Dade, 34, of Brownsville; Barry Douglas, 41, of Waynesburg; Eugene Grooms, 40, of Brownsville; Wesley Middleton, 37, of Brownsville; and Norman Thornton, 61, of Donora.
Hickton said the ring was distributing heroin, cocaine and illegal weapons. Authorities seized $1.1 million in cash, as well as guns and modified vehicles with hidden compartments.
“There’s no limit of the creativity from these criminals in these drug rings. You wonder what societal problems could be solved if they directed their energy toward a real job,” Hickton said.
The investigation into the regional traffickers started in 2011, and more arrests are possible.
“Our strategy has been to identify, disrupt, dismantle and remove the individuals who use drugs as their currency and violence as their method of enforcement to traffic illegal drugs and guns across the commonwealth and the nation,” Hickton said.
That strategy included court-approved wiretaps and leaning on the FBI, local police, state police and – more than ever – the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Postal Service.
“They’ve become great partnerships. We learn a lot about these organizations with their help. It’s not a matter of if we find (these criminals), it’s a matter of when we charge you. We can’t say if more arrests are coming, because this matter is still under investigation, but 46 is a good number,” Hickton said.
Previous arrests were made in August 2014 and September and December of 2015.