Press Release
Nine Facing Federal Charges following Project Safe Neighborhoods Investigation into Drug Trafficking
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH - After a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, nine people were indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. The separate, but related, indictments were returned on October 9, 2018. The defendants will be detained pending trial.
THE INDICTMENTS
The first indictment, containing two counts, named: Derick Davare, 31, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant. According to the indictment, on or about August 22, 2018, Davare, being a convicted felon, illegally possessed ammunition, namely two boxes of .9 millimeter Federal American Eagle ammunition and two boxes of 5.7 x .28 caliber FNH ammunition. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year to possess ammunition. Additionally, on or about March 2, 2018, Davare distributed and possessed with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 5 years and up to 50 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,250,000, or both.
The second indictment, containing two counts, named: Drake Davare, 28, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant. According to the indictment, on or about March 12, 2018 and March 18, 2018, Davare distributed and possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, or both.
The third indictment, containing two counts, named: David Kimmel, 29, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant. According to the indictment, on or about August 13, 2018 and August 28, 2018, Kimmel distributed and possessed with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, or both.
The fourth indictment, containing five counts, named: Dylan Main, 22, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania; Taurean Potter, 33, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania; and Anthony Washington Jr., 26, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as defendants. According to the indictment, from in around 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around May 2018, Main, Potter and Washington conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Additionally, on various dates throughout 2017 and 2018, Main, Potter and Washington each distributed and possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of the following for the each of the following defendants: Main - not more than 100 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000, or both; Potter – not more than 60 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $3,000,000, or both; and Washington – not more than 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, or both.
The fifth indictment, containing two counts, named: Donavan McFrazier, 30, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant. According to the indictment, on or about July 9, 2018, McFrazier possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base and forty grams or more of fentanyl, all Schedule II controlled substances. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $6,000,000, or both.
The sixth indictment, containing one count, named: Jeffrey Vitale, 29, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant. According to the indictment, on or about February 16, 2018, Vitale distributed and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $1,000,000, or both.
The seventh indictment, containing one count, named: Kacie Zito, 32, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant. According to the indictment, from in and around October 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around March 2018, Zito conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $1,000,000, or both.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government.
A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation leading to the indictments in this case. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
An indictment is an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Updated December 19, 2018
Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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