Two “SCO” Gang Members Sentenced to Prison

PITTSBURGH, PA - Two Western Pennsylvania residents have been sentenced in federal court on convictions of narcotics trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence of four years imprisonment, and six years supervised release, on Keenan Williams, age 22, formerly of Duquesne, PA; and the sentence of six years imprisonment and four years supervised release on Reginald Brown, age 29, formerly of East Pittsburgh, PA.

According to information presented to the Court, the FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force conducted a long-term investigation of drug trafficking occurring in and around the Braddock section of Pittsburgh. Williams and Brown, and other individuals were identified as members and/or associates of a neighborhood based street gang, self-titled "SCO", which illegally distributed controlled substances in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.

In January of 2019, investigators obtained authorization to conduct a federal wire investigation, which continued through May of 2019. Williams and Brown, along with 30 others were indicted in June of 2019 by a federal grand jury in three separate, but related, Indictments.

As to Williams, the Court was informed that intercepted communications confirmed that he served as a drug runner for members of the conspiracy, namely, his half-brother, Richard Coto-Wheat, distributing controlled substances in the North Versailles and Braddock neighborhoods.

As to Brown, the Court was informed that intercepted communications confirmed that he was conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base, commonly known as crack. Brown, who admitted that he was a member of SCO, also admitted to obtaining items used in processing cocaine into crack for McFadden, SCO’s leader. Moreover, law enforcement seized the following items from the kitchen of Brown’s residence: a Ruger 9mm pistol, with a loaded magazine and a chambered round, and $5,490.00 in United States currency as well as numerous other items indicative of drug-trafficking. As a part of the judgment in this case, Brown was required to forfeit these items to the government.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the multi-agency team, which was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Moore. Partners in this investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Other assisting agencies included the Monroeville Police Department, Penn Hills Police Department, Wilkinsburg Police Department, and Allegheny County Adult Probation.

This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, known as OCDETF. OCDETF was established in 1982 to support comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It is the keystone of the drug reduction strategy of the Department of Justice. By combining the resources and expertise of federal agencies and their state and local law enforcement partners, OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations.