In two raids, agents find toddlers living in homes with loaded firearms
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced felony charges against four Pittsburgh-area people after separate investigations led to the seizure of 29 guns, drugs and cash in Brentwood and Wilkinsburg. In both cases, investigators discovered toddler children in the houses that were searched, leading to child endangerment charges as well.
In the Brentwood case, Office of Attorney General agents, serving a drug asset forfeiture petition as part of a prior case, detected an odor of drugs coming from the home, and obtained a search warrant. Inside 40 West Francis Avenue, investigators recovered 19 firearms, drugs and $8,000 cash. A 17-month-old girl was living in the home.
In the Wilkinsburg case, agents conducting a drug investigation served a warrant at a home on the 900 block of Franklin Avenue, where they discovered eight guns, cocaine, and methamphetamine. An 18-month-old child was found in a bedroom – along with a loaded handgun.
“I’m working to keep Pennsylvanians safe in their neighborhoods, by getting guns out of the hands of criminals using them to protect their illegal drug operations,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “What makes these cases particularly outrageous is these individuals had toddlers, guns and drugs in the same houses. They endangered these children’s welfare, and we’re holding them accountable.”
In the Brentwood case, Chad Lubawski, 37, and Colleen Secilia, 38, of the unit block of West Francis Avenue, were charged with possession of stolen firearms, tampering with the serial numbers on those firearms, drug possession, and endangering the welfare of children.
In the Wilkinsburg case, Matthew Smith, 20, and Marcus Smith, 18, both of the 900 block of Franklin Avenue, Wilkinsburg, were charged with possession of stolen firearms, manufacturing and distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine, and endangering the welfare of children.
Lubawski and Secilia were arraigned. Lubawski’s bail was set at $25,000, and Secilia was released on her own recognizance. Preliminary hearings for Lubawski and Secilia are scheduled for July 24. Matthew and Marcus Smith were arraigned on $10,000 bail, which they posted and were released, pending hearings on July 19. The cases will be prosecuted by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.
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