Federal Authorities Dismantle Large Drug Trafficking Organization

PITTSBURGH, PA – 35 residents of Western Pennsylvania, one resident of New York, and one resident of West Virginia have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of drug trafficking and firearms violations, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The Indictment, returned on June 18 and unsealed today, names the following 37 individuals as defendants:

• Christopher Highsmith, 26, of Irwin, PA

• Lamont Benton, 23, of McKees Rocks, PA

• Michael Broglie, 51, of Finleyville, PA

• Jarrell Dawson, 20, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Latone Dunbar, 25, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA

• John Fedorka, 35, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Roderick Ferguson, 18, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Perry Freeman, 18, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA

• Laffayette Fuller, 19, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Lequay Fuller, 22, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Dontae Gilbert, 18, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA

• James Givner, 35, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Deandre Gordon, 24, of West Mifflin, PA

• Brandon Green, 34, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Kyleif Harley, 27, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Robert Hartlaub, 32, of Waynesburg, PA

• Keevan Jackson, 20, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Anthony Jetter, 30, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Henry Johnson, 28, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Nicholas Laur, 39, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Trevon McCrary, 24, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Danasia McNeal, 21, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Willie Miller, 27, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Devonte Parker, 24, of Pittsburgh, PA

• April Price, 21, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Jaimone Robinson, 19, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Amber Rogers, 27, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Brian Salaj, 37, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Ronika Somerville, 22, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Theresa Somerville, 49, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Raelynn Stevenson, 29, of West Mifflin, PA

• Rico Taylor, 34, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Jesse Tedrow, 27, of Hundred, WV

• Holiday Vaughn, 41, of New York

• Ronald Williams, 26, of Pittsburgh, PA

• St. John Williams, 27, of Pittsburgh, PA

• Martel Yates, 30, of Pittsburgh, PA

According to the Indictment, the defendants conspired to distribute and distribute over 1 kilogram of heroin, at least 400 grams of fentanyl, and fentanyl analogs, cocaine, and cocaine base, commonly known as crack, from January 2018 through June 2019. The Indictment further alleges individual firearms charges and/or drug trafficking violations against Latone Dunbar, John Fedorka, Dontae Gilbert, Trevon McCrary, James Givner, Henry Johnson, Jaimone Robinson, Holiday Vaughn, and Ronald Williams.

For all defendants, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of each defendant.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Allegheny County Adult Probation, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Other assisting agencies include the Green Tree Police Department, New York City Police Department, Mount Oliver Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Yonkers Police Department, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

Assistant United States Attorneys Christy C. Wiegand and Craig Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.