18 charged in violent heroin ring in Wilkinsburg

Source: Pittsburgh Post-GazetteAug.新蒲崗迷你倉 29--Eighteen people have been charged in connection with a heroin ring whose leaders plotted to rob and kill a rival dealer to ensure their control over the local trade, the Pennsylvania attorney general's office said today.The investigation into the "Wilkinsburg Crew" began last year, when Allegheny County police began cracking down on heroin distribution in Wilkinsburg and nearby communities after learning that several shootings and homicides might have been connected to the heroin trade, Attorney General Kathleen Kane said in a press release.She said her office, the county police and several other local departments worked together to investigate the ring as part of "Operation Wilkinsburg Crew."When they conducted court-ordered wire taps, orchestrated undercover drug purchases and executed search warrants on suspected crew members they discovered that "members of the 'Wilkinsburg Crew' allegedly plotted to rob and murder a rival heroin dealer in an effort to control heroin trafficking in Wilkinsburg and profit personally," according to a press release.A state-wide grand jury recommended the charges that were filed today.According to the grand jury, Garnett Long-Parham, 27, of Monroeville, traveled to Newark, N.J., about once a month, purchasing an average of 1,500 bags of heroin each time, the AG's office said.The grand jury described Julian Thompson, 20, of Wilkinsburg, as a key leader of the Wilkinsburg Crew and said he sold about 50 bags of heroin per week under the brand names MMG, VIP, Hitman, Maserati, Bad Boyz, Harley-Davidson, Super Bowl and Exxon.Sometimes, the AG's office said, the crew members got 13-year-olds to help run their drugs from one location to another.A significant number of the people who purchased heroin from Mr. Thompson were from Westmoreland County, which has seen 20 heroin-related deaths so far this year, according to the AG's office.Mr. Thompson faces charges of criminal conspiracy, participating in a corrupt organization and delivery of heroin.Mr. Long-Parham faces the same charges as well as one count of possession with attempt to deliver heroin.Also charged in connection wimini storageh "Operation Wilkinsburg Crew" are:--Jasmine Carter, 23, no known address, charged with delivery and possession of heroin--James Shanks, 23, of Penn Hills, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, criminal conspiracy, delivery and possession of heroin--Andre Brown, 21, of Lawrenceville, charged with delivery and possession of heroin--Gregory Nash, 33, of Garfield, charged with conspiracy--Vadol Lewis, 20, no address listed, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy, delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Kyland Napper, 20, of Wilkinsburg, charged with delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Kyle Wilson, 19, of Wilkinsburg, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, criminal conspiracy, delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Eric Newsome, 21, of Plum, charged with delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Emmett Wilson, 21, of Wilkinsburg, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy, delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Jonas Gillespie, 20, of Wilkinsburg, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy, delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Dalemar Satchell, 20, of Penn Hills, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy, delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Reginald Freeman, 21, of Penn Hills, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy, delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Tyree Young, 22, of Wilmerding, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy, delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Michael Barr, 25, of Lincoln-Lemington, charged with participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy, delivery of heroin and possession of heroin--Nicholas Beck, 29, of Greensburg, charged with participating in a corrupt organization and criminal conspiracy--Khiry Thomas, 23,of Wilkinsburg, charged with possessing heroinLiz Navratil: lnavratil@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1438 or on Twitter @LizNavratil.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at .post-gazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage