More than 47,000 Doses of Heroin/Fentanyl Taken Off Streets
HARRISBURG – Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a collaborative investigation resulting in arrests of a Westmoreland County man and three co-conspirators who were selling guns and fentanyl/heroin to an undercover officer over recent months.
David Jefferies, 34, James Womack, 33, and Shelton Payne, 34, each are charged with illegal possession of a firearm and felony drug-trafficking. All three men have prior felony convictions that prohibit them from possessing firearms.
Andre Ellis-Barnes, 41, of Wilkinsburg, was also charged for allegedly selling drugs to an undercover officer.
“Fentanyl continues to fuel the opioid crisis in the Commonwealth and nationwide, and dealers use firearms to protect their lucrative trade,” Attorney General Sunday said. “The collaboration between law enforcement partners, like the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force in this case, removed thousands of doses of fentanyl and several high-caliber weapons from the Westmoreland community.”
A search warrant was recently executed at Jefferies’ home, where officers found a Glock 9mm handgun, approximately 382 grams of fentanyl, and black tar heroin.
Office of Attorney General Agents were assisted in this investigation by the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force, and the Police Departments of North Huntingdon, Monessen, Rostraver, New Kensington, and Irwin.
These charges will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Tomm Mutschler. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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