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Press Release

Grand Jury Brings New Charges Against Alleged Beaver County Cocaine Dealer

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH, PA – A Beaver County resident has been charged in a Superseding Indictment by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The eight-count Superseding Indictment, returned on Feb. 5, named Rickee Dawkins, 52, of Aliquippa, PA, as the sole defendant.

According to the Superseding Indictment, from July 2016 to July 2017, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Dawkins conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine. In addition, on various dates during the course of the conspiracy, Dawkins distributed and possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, 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 the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This prosecution is part of a long-term investigation by the FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force (GPSSTF), which targeted a large scale Drug Trafficking Organization operating in Butler, Beaver and Allegheny Counties. The GPSSTF is comprised of dedicated law enforcement professionals from the Wilkinsburg Police Department, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the FBI. The GPSSTF and the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, would like to recognize the significant contributions made to this investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, United Sates Postal Inspection Service, Cranberry Township Police Department and the New Brighton Police Department. The Department of Homeland Security Investigators also assisted in the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case.

This 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.

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

Updated February 7, 2019

Topic
Drug Trafficking