Apr 25, 2018 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh announced charges against 39 people – many from Washington and parts of the Mon Valley – Wednesday as authorities said they dismantled a large interstate drug-trafficking ring that allegedly brought hundreds of kilos of cocaine into the region.

The charges are outlined in two separate but related superseding indictments returned a day earlier by a grand jury following a nearly two-year investigation by various agencies. They contain charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, financial structuring and firearms crimes.

“This cocaine organization is one of the largest in the history of Western Pennsylvania,” said Scott Brady, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, during a news conference at the U.S. courthouse in Pittsburgh. “It was spread across the country from Pittsburgh to Atlanta to Los Angeles, with sources to Mexican cartels.”

He said it distributed cocaine throughout Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Westmoreland and Fayette counties.

Many details of the nearly two-year investigation are not public. Asked to elaborate on how authorities believe those charged are all members of the same network, Brady said they “came to our attention through a variety of investigative means. This was the result of a wiretap investigation and traditional investigative methods, and everyone charged came to our attention through this investigation.”

Brady identified two brothers – Jamie Lightfoot Jr., 25, of Verona and Deaubre Lightfoot, 27, of Monessen – as leaders of the regional operation. He said Don Juan Mendoza, 38, of Lawrenceville, Ga., was their supplier.

Along with Mendoza, the Lightfoots and Moses, others charged in the first grand jury indictment include Edward Alford II, 30, of Donora; Devon Bell, 25, of Brownsville; Douglas Cochran, 39, of Washington; Anthony Crews, 44, of Monessen; John Duchi Jr., 29, of Donora; Sean Dungee II, 32, of Donora; Brett Fincik, age 43, formerly of Belle Vernon; Chace Johnson, 19, of California; Malik Lawson, 22, of Donora; William Shaw Jr., 33, of Brownsville; Herbert Sheppard, 44, of Monessen; and Quentin Vaden, 35, of Washington.

Those charged in a second indictment include Brandon Thomas, 38, of Donora; Regina Davis, 48, of Donora; Adam Farabaugh, 28, of Canonsburg; Renee Kinder, 45, of Donora; Robert Margoni, 28, of New Eagle; Tyler Mucci, 31, of Monongahela; Ricky Pietroboni, 40, of Monongahela; and Michael Tirpak, 35, of Elizabeth.

Brady claimed Todd Moses, 33, who formerly lived in Donora and now lives in Atlanta, connected Mendoza and the younger Lightfoot brother, who was arrested in November when investigators executed search warrants at his home and a recreation vehicle that was allegedly one of the vehicles used to traffic cocaine.

Authorities have arrested almost all of those charged but are still searching for Moses, Brady said.

The Lightfoot brothers were already in custody and facing charges following searches of their homes late in 2017. Investigators allegedly seized 52 kilograms of cocaine, 85 pounds of marijuana, a handgun and an AK-47 from Jamie’s home and a recreation vehicle, with additional searches of Deaubre’s and others’ homes the following month.

“All told, in addition to the significant quantities of cocaine and heroin seized, 11 firearms and over $1 million in cash have been seized,” Brady said.

Their father, Jamie Lightfoot Sr., 46, is charged with helping in the alleged conspiracy from federal prison in Loretto where he is serving time on previous drug dealing charges.

Along with the FBI and state police, local departments including South Strabane and Elizabeth police carried out the investigation with funding from a federal task force.

Brady pointed to a “disturbing trend” of cocaine making a comeback in the region.

“In fact, many of our fellow citizens are overdosing on a combination of cocaine and fentanyl,” he said.