PITTSBURGH, Pa. ‑ Thirty‑nine Pittsburgh‑area residents, two residents of Denton, Texas, and one resident of Lawrenceville, Ga., have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Rodriguez announced today. The four separate, but related, federal indictments are part of a 13‑month investigation into drug trafficking in the Mon Valley and eastern suburbs of Allegheny County.

"Freedom from fear is a basic right," stated U.S. Attorney Hickton. "Violent criminals who tyrannize our neighborhoods will feel the full force of the law as it can be marshaled by this office.  Today's action is evidence of that commitment, and hopefully it will begin to restore quality of life to the law‑abiding citizens of Clairton and surrounding communities."

"This investigation is a prime example of what can be achieved when all levels of law enforcement work together toward a common goal," said Mr. Rodriguez.

Of the 42 people indicted, 20 had been arrested as of 1:00 p.m. this afternoon, and 12 are still being sought.  Ten defendants were already in custody. More than 250 law enforcement agents, officers and personnel in three states were involved in the round‑up operation.

The 42 defendants are named in four separate, but related, indictments. The indictments were returned on Dec. 9, 2010, and unsealed today. Descriptions of the indictments and penalties follow.

First, a one‑count indictment named the following 17 defendants:

• Damel M. Gaines, 32, of Penn Hills, Pa.;
• Dewayne Joseph, a/k/a Trig, a/k/a TreyShit, 27, of Duquesne, Pa.;
• Omar R. Chapman, 24, of West Mifflin, Pa.;
• Cedric L. Mack, a/k/a Lockie, 32, of McKeesport, Pa.;
• Lamothe M. Meggett III, a/k/a Tez, 25, of West Mifflin, Pa.;
• Melvin L. Walker, a/k/a Loc, a/k/a Mel Mel, 27, of Duquesne, Pa.;
• Devron M. Peterson, a/k/a Chicago, a/k/a Chi Town, 28, of McKeesport, Pa.;
• Joseph D. Mack, a/k/a Jeezy, 29, of McKeesport, Pa.;
• Andre J. Jackson, 32, of Pittsburgh, Pa.;
• Javona M. Joseph, 26, of Wilkinsburg, Pa.;
• Richard D. Jasek, 27, of West Mifflin, Pa.;
• Timothy J. Anderson, a/k/a B‑Nice, 21, of Pittsburgh, Pa.;
• Frank M. Cobb, age 29, of Duquesne, Pa.;
• Orlando Cobbs, a/k/a Leap, 31, of Duquesne, Pa.;
• Eric G. Gaines, 39, of Verona, Pa.;
• Keith E. Redman, a/k/a Dinger, 34, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and
• Brian Michael Knight, 46, of Duquesne, Pa.

According to the indictment, from in and around February 2010, and continuing thereafter to on or about Oct. 7, 2010, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Damel Gaines, Dewayne Joseph, Chapman, Cedric Mack, Meggett, Walker, Peterson, Joseph Mack, Jackson, Javona Joseph, Jasek, Anderson, Cobb, Cobbs, Eric Gaines, Redman, and Knight conspired with one another to possess with intent to distribute and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine.

Second, a three‑count indictment named the following defendants:

• Dwayne L. Jackson, a/k/a Wayne, a/k/a Big Head, 47, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Aretha L. Smith, 31, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Walter L. Seibles, 43, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Walter L. Thompson, 55, of McKeesport, Pa.;
• Derrick Middlebrook, 21, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Corey L. Jackson, a/k/a Money, 25, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Brian F. Jackson, 26, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Anthony M. Jamison, 21, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Paul M. Jamison, a/k/a Michael Jamison, a/k/a Chestnut, 54, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Skylar Rashaud Simmons, a/k/a BoBo, 21, of Clairton, Pa.;
• Tehiran L. McDougald, a/k/a Larell McDougald, 34, of Clairton, Pa.; and
• Bradley Dawkins, a/k/a B. Doc, 21, of Clairton, Pa.

According to the indictment, from in and around November2009, and continuing thereafter to in and around June, 2010, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Dwayne Jackson, Smith, Seibles, Thompson, Middlebrook, Corey Jackson, Brian Jackson, Anthony Jamison, Paul Jamison, Simmons, McDougald and Dawkins conspired with one another, and with others, to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine.  Also, on November 21, 2009 and December 30, 2009, Dwayne Jackson possessed with intent to distribute and distributed a quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine.

Third, a five‑count superseding indictment named the following defendants:

• Brian K. Boyd, 38, of Pittsburgh, Pa.;
• Easton Cannon, 35, of Mt. Oliver, Pa.;
• Thyais Walker, 34, of Mt. Oliver, Pa.;
• Jonathan Huston, 40, of McKeesport, Pa.; and
• Demond Briston, 38, of Munhall, Pa.

According to the superseding indictment, on or about Aug. 24, 2010, Boyd possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.  Also, Boyd is charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm on that same date.  Boyd has a prior state court felony conviction.  Federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing a firearm.

The superseding indictment further charges that from in and around April 2010, and continuing thereafter to on or about Aug. 24, 2010, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Boyd, Cannon, Walker, Huston and Briston conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.  Also, on or about Aug. 24, 2010, Cannon, Walker and Huston possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.  Finally, on July 21, 2010, Briston possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.

Finally, a two‑count superseding indictment named the following defendants:

• Dietrick Bostick, 43, of Monroeville, Pa.;
• Arthur D. Gilbert, a/k/a Abdul Kareem Ali, 41, of Lawrenceville, Ga.;
• Arthur Brown, 45, of Pittsburgh, Pa.;
• Dominique Jackson, a/k/a Dominique Green, 23, of Denton, Texas;
• Christopher Stanley, a/k/a Allen Russell, 30, of Denton, Texas;
• Melinda Octavia Adams, 40, of Pittsburgh, Pa.;
• Alimamy Saidu Timbo, a/k/a Ali, 32, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and
• Michael Fancher, a/k/a Michael Francher, 38, of Wilmerding, Pa.

According to the superseding indictment, from in and around July 2010, and continuing thereafter to on or about Oct. 7, 2010, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Bostick, Gilbert, Brown, Jackson, Stanley, Adams, Timbo and Fancher conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Also, on or about Oct. 7, 2010, Bostick possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of $4,000,000, or both, for all defendants.  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 defendants.

Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. Johnston is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the McKeesport Police Department, theClairton Police Department, the Allegheny County Housing Authority Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Munhall Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in these cases.

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

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