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35 Pittsburghers Indicted On Federal Drug Charges

Dozens Accused Of Cocaine Trafficking In Pittsburgh Region

POSTED: 9:53 pm EST November 19, 2008

Thirty-five people indicted last week by a federal grand jury face arrest Wednesday after authorities unsealed the document and captured all but five defendants by the evening.

A federal grand jury indicted 35 Pittsburghers on federal drug charges that stemmed from a large-scale, multi-agency investigation of drug trafficking in the city's Brookline, Beltzhoover and Mount Washington neighborhoods.

U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan and Gary Davis, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Assistant Special Agent in Charge, announced that 30 of the indicted defendants were in custody by 6 p.m. Wednesday.

"The operation began at 6 a.m. on Wednesday with the execution of multiple arrest and search warrants by more than 215 federal, state and local law enforcement officers," Buchanan said.

During one of the raids in Indiana Township, FBI Special Agent Sam Hicks was fatally shot (Read/Watch WTAE Channel 4 Action News reports about the agent's fatal shooting).

The 27-count indictment, returned a week ago and released Wednesday, named the following people.

  • Anthony E. Terry Jr., aka Tone, 24, of Pittsburgh
  • Jamill Denson, aka Bo, aka Mill, 36, of Pittsburgh
  • Victor Nelson, 40, of Pittsburgh
  • Matthew Robert Balzer, 26, of Pittsburgh
  • Daniel Errol Carter, 49, of Pittsburgh
  • Jeremy Lee Caskey, 26, of Pittsburgh
  • Katie Ann Chandler, 27, of Pittsburgh
  • Lindsey Nicole Coccoli, 26, of Pittsburgh
  • Richard Emanuel Coleman, aka Manny, 32, of Pittsburgh
  • Michael Joseph Costanzo, aka Noser, 24, of Pittsburgh
  • William Rashad Denson, aka Little Bill, 21, of Pittsburgh
  • Bruno Leonard Desimone, 25, of Pittsburgh
  • Richard Bruno Desimone, 34, of Pittsburgh
  • Joshua Michael Foriska, 25, of Pittsburgh
  • Leon Champ Hudson, aka Lee Lee, 44, of Pittsburgh
  • Robert Ralph Korbe, 39, of Glenshaw
  • Jarrett Alan Koerbel, 25, of Pittsburgh
  • Quincy Vanco Leonard, 33, of Pittsburgh
  • Jonathan Michael Liebro, 22, of Pittsburgh
  • Bryan Patrick Lucas, 27, of Pittsburgh
  • Nicolas Alan Mihelcic, 24, of Pittsburgh
  • Jeffrey T. Molinaro, 22, of Pittsburgh
  • Gino Michael Riccelli, 26, of McKees Rocks
  • Nathan Paul Rowan, 38, of Clairton
  • Nadine Marie Russo, 25, of Pittsburgh
  • Jason Lamar Steverson, 30, of Pittsburgh
  • Alfred Terrell Thomas IV, aka Nu Nu, 24, of Pittsburgh
  • Thomas Carl Thomas Jr., 31, of Pittsburgh
  • Roger Laron Underwood, 25, of Pittsburgh
  • Joel O. Velazquez-Reyes, 31, of Pittsburgh
  • Aaron Kareem Wade, 28, of Pittsburgh
  • Krystal Marie Waz, 20, of McDonald
  • Ross Edward Webber, 29, of Pittsburgh
  • Richard Edward Whatton, 21, of Clairton
  • Sean Alec Whitney, 27, of , Pittsburgh

The indictment accuses the defendants of conspiring to traffic cocaine and crack from October 2007 through September 2008.

Michael Rodriguez, special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh FBI office, said the alleged operation was "a violent drug distribution ring" but did not offer any other details during a brief news conference Wednesday morning.

Some of the defendants face additional charges per the amount of cocaine they are alleged to have distributed.

Terry, Balzer, Caskey, Coccoli, Costanzo, Richard Desimone, Hudson, Koerbel, Lucas, Mihelcic, Molinaro, Riccelli, Russo, Velazquez-Reyes, Waz, Webber, Whatton and Whitney are also charged with conspiracy to acquire and obtain possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge, and to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of Oxycontin, a quantity of Percocet, a quantity of Vicodin, and a quantity of Xanax, from in or around June 2007 and continuing until in or around August 2008.

Except for Coccoli, Molinaro and Waz, the defendants could face either a prison sentence of 10 years to life or a $4 million fine or both.


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