Three Local Residents Face Heroin Trafficking Charges

Three local men are among 34 residents of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York that have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws.

Richard Wood, 33, of Swissvale; Troy Anderson, 24, of Braddock; and Dorianne Harris, 20, of Wilkinsburg were charged after a nearly year-long federal, state and local law enforcement investigation into drug trafficking and violence in Homestead.

The charges were contained in six related indictments, returned on March 6 and unsealed Thursday.

"This investigation was a response to the increased violence and incidence of drug trafficking in the Homestead, Pa. area, much of which was attributed to a gang, or criminal enterprise, known as the Uptown Crew," said Gary Douglas Perdue, special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh Division of the FBI. "These indictments are a clear example of the determination and collaborative spirit among area law enforcement agencies to dismantle criminal enterprises that pose the most significant threat."

Indictments

The first indictment, containing seven counts, named:

• Richard Wood, 33, of 2013 Wayne St., Swissvale
• Brandon Thompson, 30, of 134 West 11th Ave., Homestead
• Antonio Hardin, 32, of 1315 Foxboro Dr., Monroeville
• James Walker, 44, of 134 West 11th Ave., Homestead
• Joseph Thompson, II, 25, of 204 E. 12th Ave., Homestead
• Gregory Harris, Jr., 24, of 364 West 13th Ave., Homestead
• Luther Harper, 27, of 125 14th Ave., Homestead
• Edward Cook, 25, of 1417 Hays St., Homestead

According to the indictment, from about April 2012 to February 2013, in western Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Brandon Thompson, Hardin, Walker, Joseph Thompson, II, Wood, Harris and Harper conspired together and with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

The indictment also charges that on or about Aug. 12, 2012, Brandon Thompson and Edward Cook used, carried, possessed, brandished and discharged firearms during and in relation to that heroin trafficking conspiracy. The indictment further charges Antonio Hardin with, on or about Feb. 11, possessing with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On or about Jan. 26, 2013, the indictment charges Richard Wood with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, and charges Walker and Hardin with distribution and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

The second indictment, containing one count, named:

• Troy Anderson, 24, of 107 Comrie Ave., Braddock
• Dorianne Harris, 20, of 1703 Montier St., Wilkinsburg
• Mark Felder, 25, of 1003 Kennedy Ave., Duquesne

According to the indictment, from about May 2012 until about February 2013, Anderson, Felder and Harris conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

The third indictment, containing two counts, named:

• Andre Corbett. 20, of 349 W 13th Ave., Homestead
• Sterling Marshall, 18, of 623 E. 7th Ave., Munhall
• Tireal Wheeler, 19, of 235 E 14th Ave., Homestead
• Jordan Murphy, 21, of 237 E 17th Ave., Homestead

According to the indictment, from about May 2012, until around February 2013, Corbett, Marshall, Wheeler and Murphy, conspired together and with others to
distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. Additionally, the indictment charged that, during that same time period, those same defendants conspired to employ and hire persons under 18 years of age to distribute heroin.

The fourth indictment, containing five counts, named:

• Jay Germany, 22, of 1415 Rutherford Ave., Pittsburgh
• Brady Hall, 19, of 1202 Woodbine St., Pittsburgh
• Jaquan Washington, 23, of 1312 Louis St., Homestead
• Hector Guadalupe, Jr., 36, of 831 Monroe St., Brooklyn, NY
• Santino Drew, 34, of 180 Hamilton St., Apt. 3, New Brunswick, NJ
• Thomas Martinez, 34, of 41 Fairview Ave., Edison, NJ
• Louis Spinnenweber, Jr., 34, of 817 Hillcrest Dr., Canonsburg

According to the indictment, from about May 2012, and continuing through February 2013, Germany, Hall, Washington, Guadalupe, Drew and Martinez
conspired together and with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

The indictment further charged that, during that same time period, Germany, Hall and Washington conspired to employ and hire persons under 18 years of age to distribute heroin. Additionally, around Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, Drew and Martinez possessed with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Also, on or about Nov. 21, 2012, Spinnenweber possessed with the intent to
distribute a quantity of a heroin. Last, around Oct. 30, 2012, Germany and Hall possessed with the intent to distribute and did distribute a quantity of heroin.

The fifth indictment, containing three counts, named:

• Bryce Harper, 26, of 241 E 15th Ave., Homestead.
• Diamantia Serrano, 19, of 2125 ½ Duquesne Ave., McKeesport
• Lacie Harper, 24, of 241 E 15th Ave., Homestead
• Ryan Harper, 36, of 1313 Martha St., Munhall
• Jamar Harper, 32, of 1104 West St., Homestead
• Ronnell Robinson, 19, of 500 Commonwealth Ave., Duquesne
• Seth Lindsey, 18, of 122 S 3rd St., Duquesne

According to the indictment, from about July 2012, and continuing until around February 2013, Harper, Serrano, Lacie Harper, Ryan Harper, Jamar Harper, Robinson and Lindsey conspired together and with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. The indictment also charged that, during that same time period, those same defendants conspired to employ and hire persons under 18 years of age to distribute heroin. Last, the indictment charges that around Sept. 19, 2012, Bryce, Ryan Harper and Jamar Harper, together with Diamantia Serrano, possessed with the intent to distribute less than 100 grams of heroin.

The sixth indictment, containing four counts, named:

• Thomas Hopes, 21, of 824 Clarissa St., Pittsburgh
• Keith Harris, 22, of 364 West 13th Ave., Homestead
• Anthony Smith, 21, of 1334 Sylvan St., Homestead
• Hakeem Kirby, 19, of 154 West 15th Ave., Homestead
• William McDonald, 68, of 561 West 8th Ave., Homestead
• Ronnell Robinson, 19, of 500 Commonwealth Ave., Duquesne
• Gregory Harris, Jr., 24, of 364 West 13th Ave., Homestead
• Sterling Marshall, 18, of 623 E. 7th Ave., Munhall

According to the indictment, from around May 2012 until February 2013, Hopes,
Harris, Smith, Kirby and McDonald conspired together and with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. The indictment further charged that, during that same time period, those same defendants conspired to employ and hire persons under 18 years of age to distribute heroin.

The indictment also charges that on or about Dec. 18, 2012, Hopes and Kirby
possessed with the intent to distribute and did distribute a quantity of heroin. Last, the indictment charges that on or about Jan. 3, 2013, Robinson, Keith and Gregory Harris, Marshall, and Hopes used, carried, possessed, brandished and discharged firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence.

PENALTIES

• On the conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin count, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both, for a first-time drug trafficking conviction.

• For those with one prior felony drug trafficking conviction, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $20,000,000 or both, and for those with two prior felony drug trafficking convictions, the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.

• On the firearms' counts charging possession, use, brandishing or discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime, the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years if the gun is possessed in furtherance of the crime, seven years if the gun is brandished in furtherance of the crime, and 10 years if the gun is discharged in furtherance of the crime. These sentences, by law, must run consecutively to any sentence imposed for the narcotics counts. In addition, the law imposes a fine of up to $250,000.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Rosen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General; Allegheny County Sheriff's Office; Allegheny County Police Department, Munhall Police Department, West Homestead Police
Department and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of these individuals.

"These prosecutions are a continuation of our community impact prosecution strategy where we are going community to community to aggressively eliminate violent criminals," said U.S. Attorney David S. Hickton. "But every day we are also working with committed public-spirited citizens to increase opportunities for our youth; to replace despair with hope; and to give kids at risk and reformed offenders a fair shot to be productive citizens because we know that to best protect the public welfare, we need to work equally hard to prosecute and prevent crime."

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