OF THIS INVESTIGATION. A FEDERAL GRAND JURY HAS INDICTED 24 PEOPLE AND A DRUG TRAFFICKING RING AND THEY SAY CRACK AND COCAINE WERE BEING SOLD IN AN OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. SEVERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES GATHERED TO ANNOUNCE THAT A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTED TWO DOZEN PEOPLE FROM THE PITTSBURGH AREA. THEY’RE FACING DRUG FIRE, ARMS AND OTHER CHARGES. THIS INVESTIGATION SHOWS HOW A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG OUR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS MAKES SUCH AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY THESE ARE THE NAMES INVOLVED IN A FIVE MONTH LONG WIRETAP INVESTIGATION. THEY SAY OVER TWO DAYS, MOST OF THE DEFENDANTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, INCLUDING A MAJOR REGIONAL COCAINE SUPPLIER. SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SUFFER DAILY FROM GANG AND GUN VIOLENCE. AND WE KNOW THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE CHARGED HERE TERRORIZED THE UPTOWN AND HILL DISTRICT COMMUNITIES. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY RECOVERED MULTIPLE KILOS OF POWDERED COCAINE, SEVERAL FIREARMS ARMS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CASH. THEY SAY FROM JULY 20, 22 TO JUNE OF 2023, POWDERED COCAINE, CRACK COCAINE AND FENTANYL WERE BEING SOLD IN SEVERAL PARTS OF PITTSBURGH, INCLUDING IN AN OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET ON WATSON STREET IN THE HILL DISTRICT. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAY A LOCAL GANG IS TIED TO THE CRIME. SEVERAL OF THE DEFENDANTS ARE ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE DRIZZY GANG, A VIOLENT DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZE OPERATION OPERATING IN THE HILL DISTRICT OUT RIGHT HERE IN PITTSBURGH. THE FBI IN PITTSBURGH SAY THESE TWO MEN REMAIN ON THE RUN. MARK COOK AND MARVIN COATES. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY THIS DRUG BUST COULD LEAD TO MORE REST IN THE NEAR FUT
24 indicted in Pittsburgh drug trafficking linked to gang activity
Updated: 8:44 PM EDT Jun 23, 2023
Federal grand jury has indicted 24 people in a drug trafficking ring where cocaine and crack were being sold in what authorities call an "open-air drug market."In downtown Pittsburgh, several law enforcement agencies gathered to announce that a federal grand jury indicted two dozen people from the Pittsburgh area who are facing drug, firearm and other charges."This investigation shows a collaborative effort among our federal, state and local law enforcement partners can make such an immediate impact in the community," said Keith Hart, assistant special agent in charge of the case.Federal authorities say the suspects were involved in a five-month-long wiretap investigation. They say over two days, most of the defendants have been arrested, including a major regional cocaine supplier."Some of our neighborhoods suffer daily from gang and gun violence, and we know the individuals who were charged here terrorized the Uptown and Hill District communities," said Michael Nordwall, special agent in charge.Authorities say they recovered multiple kilograms of powdered cocaine, several firearms and tens of thousands of dollars in cash.They say from July 2022 to June 2023, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl were being sold in several parts of Pittsburgh including an "open-air drug market" on a block of Watson Street in the Hill District. Law enforcement officers say a local gang is tied to the crimes."Several of the defendants are alleged members of the Drizzy gang, a violent drug trafficking organization operating in the Hill District right here in Pittsburgh," according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Eric Olshan.The FBI in Pittsburgh says two men remain on the run: Mark Cook and Marvin Coates. Federal authorities say this bust may result in more arrests in the near future.
PITTSBURGH — Federal grand jury has indicted 24 people in a drug trafficking ring where cocaine and crack were being sold in what authorities call an "open-air drug market."
In downtown Pittsburgh, several law enforcement agencies gathered to announce that a federal grand jury indicted two dozen people from the Pittsburgh area who are facing drug, firearm and other charges.
"This investigation shows a collaborative effort among our federal, state and local law enforcement partners can make such an immediate impact in the community," said Keith Hart, assistant special agent in charge of the case.
Federal authorities say the suspects were involved in a five-month-long wiretap investigation. They say over two days, most of the defendants have been arrested, including a major regional cocaine supplier.
"Some of our neighborhoods suffer daily from gang and gun violence, and we know the individuals who were charged here terrorized the Uptown and Hill District communities," said Michael Nordwall, special agent in charge.
Authorities say they recovered multiple kilograms of powdered cocaine, several firearms and tens of thousands of dollars in cash.
They say from July 2022 to June 2023, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl were being sold in several parts of Pittsburgh including an "open-air drug market" on a block of Watson Street in the Hill District. Law enforcement officers say a local gang is tied to the crimes.
"Several of the defendants are alleged members of the Drizzy gang, a violent drug trafficking organization operating in the Hill District right here in Pittsburgh," according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Eric Olshan.
The FBI in Pittsburgh says two men remain on the run: Mark Cook and Marvin Coates. Federal authorities say this bust may result in more arrests in the near future.