26 Charged in Wiretap Investigation into Drug Trafficking and Gun Violence by Street Gang “Shot Boyz” in Wilkinsburg and East Hills

PITTSBURGH, PA - A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has returned two separate, but related, Indictments following a five-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking and violence in and around Wilkinsburg and the East Hills neighborhood in Pittsburgh, United States Attorney Scott Brady announced today. The Indictments charge 26 residents of western Pennsylvania with narcotics trafficking and firearms violations.

“Every family in Pittsburgh deserves to live, work and raise their children in a community free from violence,” said United States Attorney Scott Brady. “For far too long, the people of the East End, Homewood and Wilkinsburg have suffered from disproportionate numbers of homicides, shootings and dispatches for shots fired. Our goal remains the same: to make Pittsburgh the safest city in America. In order to do so, we must prosecute and remove the most violent criminals from these neighborhoods. And that is what we have done. The Shot Boyz gang is done.”

“The Shot Boyz gang has terrorized our community with violence and drug trafficking for long enough,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman. “The community will not be handcuffed by fear of leaving their homes, getting attacked, having their children hurt or worse, being killed. These arrests are the first step to making the community safer from individuals intent on harming their neighbors. I commend the work of the Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force and our numerous other local and state partners for working diligently to bring those solely focused on illegal activity to justice.”

“ATF is committed to working with our local, state and federal partners to target those responsible for drug trafficking and gun violence in our communities,” said John Schmidt, acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “This coordinated effort between ATF and our partners demonstrates our continued dedication to identify, target, and investigate violent criminals who lessen the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

“The people of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania deserve to live in drug-free and violence-free neighborhoods,” Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert said. “This coordinated effort illustrates the unwavering commitment of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and our partner law enforcement agencies to guard, protect and serve our communities.”

“It was an honor and privilege to work so closely with such professionals in this case,” added Latrobe Police Chief John Sleasman. “The amount of heroin and fentanyl coming into Westmoreland County and Latrobe will be dramatically reduced as will the amount of senseless overdoses in our area. I want to personally thank all of the case agents, local agents and local officers who worked tirelessly on this distribution case. The citizens of Latrobe are forever grateful.”

The first Indictment, returned on August 19 and unsealed today, names the following 25 individuals as defendants:

• Tyric Allen, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
• Phillip Ahmad-Revis, 20, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
• Djuan Beasley, 20, of Swissvale, Pennsylvania;
• Marcus Best, 27, of Munhall, Pennsylvania;
• Davon Cleveland, 20, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
• Donshae Dunning, 32, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania;
• Dominic Fields, 33, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania;
• Donald Hantz, 37, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania;
• Taire Hardeman, 20, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania;
• Natrell Jeffries, 21, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania;
• Mandee Kozar, 34, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania;
• Seth Lindsey, 26, of Verona, Pennsylvania;
• Davon Loveings, 29, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
• Bryan Matthews, 31, of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania;
• Tayvon Mattox, 20, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
• Barbara McClure, 46, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania;
• Jerome Pleasant-Simpson, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
• Parris Scott, 20, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
• Nikki Sherback, 35, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania;
• Robert Smiley, 30, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
• Patrick Smith, 36, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania;
• Jeffrey Tumer, 29, of Monroeville, Pennsylvania;
• Garrett Weaver, 38, of Monroeville, Pennsylvania;
• Jeremy Winfield, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
• Marquille Wright, 25, of Munhall, Pennsylvania.

According to the Indictment, the named defendants are collectively the members and associates of a group of drug traffickers identifying themselves as “Shot Boyz,” “Drive Boyz,” and/or “OTS” (collectively, the “Shot Boyz”). During the periods of time set forth in the Indictment, the Shot Boyz sold large quantities of fentanyl in the City of Pittsburgh and the surrounding neighborhoods, including East Hills, Homewood, and Wilkinsburg. Associates of the Shot Boyz also distributed fentanyl in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. In order to further their drug trafficking operation, and to protect themselves, their drugs, and their proceeds from drug trafficking, members of the Shot Boyz obtained and possessed firearms.

The Indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl from March 2019 through August 2020. The Indictment further alleges individual drug trafficking charges against Tyric Allen, Phillip Ahmad-Revis, and Davon Loveings, as well as individual firearms violations against Allen and Loveings.

The second Indictment, returned on August 19 and also unsealed today, charges Keith Redman, 22, of Braddock, Pennsylvania, with one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition on May 21, 2020, after being convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison, namely, aggravated assault. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

For all defendants associated with the first Indictment, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, or both. As to Keith Redman, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, 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 defendants.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Latrobe Police Department, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, the Munhall Police Department, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Allegheny County Probation, the Wilkinsburg Police Department, the Monroeville Police Department, and the Penn Hills Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictments in this case.

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.

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