AG: 18 with ties to violent, heroin-trafficking ‘Wilkinsburg Crew' charged

WILKINSBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General's Organized Crime Section along with the Allegheny County police filed charges against 18 suspected drug dealers Thursday as part of “Operation Wilkinsburg Crew," Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced.

"Operation Wilkinsburg Crew" is an ongoing investigation into a violent heroin trafficking organization operating in Wilkinsburg, Kane said.

Kane said a series of homicides and shootings in Wilkinsburg believed to be related to heroin trafficking prompted the investigation, which began in 2012 when the Allegheny County Narcotics unit made a series of arrests for heroin distribution in Wilkinsburg and surrounding communities.

"My message to communities that are being terrorized by drug-related violence and crime is that their safety is my priority," Kane said. "My office is using every resource available to get criminals off the streets and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

The investigation developed using a series of court-ordered wiretaps, undercover drug purchases, controlled buys and search warrants and revealed 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.

Evidence and testimony was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the charges that were filed Thursday.

According to the grand jury, the central figure of the "Wilkinsburg Crew" was Julian Thompson, 20.

Kane said the organization allegedly was a major supplier of heroin in other communities including Churchill, Penn Hills and Monroeville, selling an average of 50 bricks of heroin per week that were stamped or marked with brand names that included: "MMG," "VIP," "HITMAN," "MASERATI," "BAD BOYZ," "HARLEY-DAVIDSON," "SUPER BOWL" and "EXXON."

Much of the heroin sold by Thompson and members of the "Wilkinsburg Crew" was supplied by Garnett Long-Parham, 27, who traveled once a month to Newark, N.J. to purchase an average of 1,500 bricks stamped and ready for distribution, according to investigators. Long-Parham allegedly sold the heroin to other crews and dealers in Wilkinsburg.

Investigators executing a series of search warrants for homes and vehicles linked to members of the crew seized a fully loaded Rock River Arms AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle; four handguns, one of which was reported stolen; approximately 270 bricks of heroin with an estimated street value of $94,500; approximately $95,671 in cash; and more than a half kilogram of powder and crack cocaine.

Kane noted the average age of "Wilkinsburg Crew" members is 21, and that they used children as young as 13 to "run" heroin to buyers and cash to dealers at various locations in the area.

Additionally, many of the heroin buyers identified in the investigation came to Wilkinsburg from neighboring Westmoreland County, according to investigators. In that county alone there have been 20 heroin-related deaths so far this year.

The criminal charges were filed before Monroeville Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst.

The defendants will be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney General Michael Ahwesh of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Section.

Below is a list of the defendants at the charges filed against them:

-- Julian Thompson, 20, Wilkinsburg, is charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization and one count of delivery of heroin.

-- Jasmine Carter, 23, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin.

-- James Shanks, 23, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Andre Brown, 21, Pittsburgh, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Gregory Nash, 33, Pittsburgh, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy.

-- Garnett Long-Parham, 27, Monroeville, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Vadol Lewis, 20, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Kyland Napper, 20, Wilkinsburg, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Kyle Wilson, 19, Wilkinsburg, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Eric Newsome, 21, Pittsburgh, is charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin.

-- Emmett Wilson, 21, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, two counts of delivery of heroin, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, two counts of possession of heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.

-- Jonas Gillespie, 20, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Dalemar Satchell, 20, Penn Hills, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Reginald Freeman, 21, Penn Hills, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Tyree Young, 22, Wilmerding, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Michael Barr, 25, Pittsburgh, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of delivery of heroin and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

-- Nicholas Beck, 29, Greensburg, is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization and one count of criminal conspiracy.

-- Khiry Thomas, 23, Pittsburgh, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin and one count of possession of heroin.

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