Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

PITTSBURGH – Seventeen people in four states have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics, money laundering and postal laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. The three separate, but related, indictments were returned on May 8, 2019 and unsealed this week.

 

“This is one of the largest cocaine distribution rings in western Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Attorney Brady. “Together with our state and local law enforcement partners, we conducted an extensive investigation of this multi-state drug distribution network. My office will continue the fight to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and hold those who pollute our communities with drugs accountable.”

 

“This drug distribution organization threatened the safety of the people of western Pennsylvania and beyond by peddling illegal drugs in their communities,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “I’m grateful for the strong collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement to break up this criminal network. We will continue working together to get these poisons off our streets and hold those who push them into our neighborhoods accountable.”

 

“This was an investigation that started at the local level and we quickly realized we needed the help of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration,” said Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa. “Through the cooperation of local, state and federal agencies, we were able to make a substantial impact on drug trafficking in Lawrence County.”

 

According to U.S. Attorney Brady, the indictments follow an 18-month investigation of a multi-state drug distribution network led by Hector Forbes, in which cocaine was sold throughout the country, including in New Castle and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group used the mail to transport the cocaine and to send cash back to Hector Forbes and Marcia Cunningham.

 

An eight-count indictment returned on May 8, names:

 

Cunningham and Hector Forbes were arrested in Florida on May 10, 2019. The remaining defendants were arrested in Lawrence and Allegheny counties on Monday, May 13, 2019. Garfield Campbell and Garfield Campbell, Jr. are father and son. Hector Forbes and Robert Forbes are brothers.

 

According to Count 1 of the Indictment, from in and around April 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around April 2019, Hector Forbes participated in a continuing criminal enterprise involved in cocaine trafficking. That statute is often referred to as the Drug Kingpin Statute, and calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years of incarceration upon conviction.

 

At Count 2, the Indictment charges all defendants with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance from in and April 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around April 2019, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere. That statute calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years of incarceration upon conviction.

 

Garfield Campbell is charged at Count 3 with attempting to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in and around June 2017. That statute calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of incarceration upon conviction.

 

Timothy Bonner is charged at Counts 4 and 5 with possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and less than 50 kilograms of marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance, on or about February 11, 2019.

 

Garfield Campbell, Marcia Cunningham, Hector Forbes and Robert Forbes are charged at Count 6 with conspiring to commit money laundering, from in and April 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around April 2019; and at Count Seven with interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

 

Marcia Cunningham and Hector Forbes are charged at Count 8 with using false names and addresses to conduct an unlawful business by means of the postal service, from in and April 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around April 2019.

 

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison for all of these defendants.

 

A second indictment, returned on May 8, and containing 24 counts, names:

 

All of the defendants were arrested on Monday, May 13, 2019, except for Wesley Cox and Serio Murillo who were already in custody. Fawn, Wesley and Michael Cox are siblings. Dondi Searcy, Jr. and Quantel Searcy are cousins.

 

According to the Indictment, from in and around 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around May 2019, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, defendants Fawn Cox, Wesley Cox, Ronny Daniels, Jr., Sergio Murillo, Eva Scialabba, Dondi Searcy, Jr., Quantel Searcy and Christopher Shaner conspired with each other and others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack, each a Schedule II controlled substance. That statute carries with it a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years of incarceration.

 

Counts 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 of the Indictment charge Fawn Cox, Wesley Cox, Ronny Daniels, Jr., Dondi Searcy, Jr. and Quantel Searcy with distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, on various dates from February 2017 to April 2019.

 

Wesley Cox is further charged at Counts 3 and 9 with distributing and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl, each a Schedule II controlled substance, on or about December 8, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively.

 

Count 13 charges Wesley Cox and Michael Cox with conspiring to commit money laundering from in and around 2017, and continuing thereafter to in and around May 2019.

 

Counts 14, 15 and 16 charge Ronny Daniels, Jr. with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine, on or about January 10, 2018, January 31, 2018, May 1, 2018, respectively.

 

Count 21 charges Sergio Murillo and Dondi Searcy, Jr. with attempting to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, on or about September 18, 2018.

 

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison for all of the defendants except for Michael Cox, who faces a maximum total sentence of twenty years of incarceration.

 

 

According to the Indictment, from in and around August 2018, and continuing thereafter to in and around September 2018, Palmer conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Additionally, on or about September 17, 2018, Palmer attempted to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

 

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000 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 defendant(s).

 

Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Marnie Sheehan-Balchon are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

 

A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment 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.

 

In this case, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit, the New Castle Police Department and the Union Township Police Department provided significant assistance in the investigation.

 

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.

 

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