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19 People Arrested In Fayette-County Based Drug Ring

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Nearly two dozen people have been charged with participating in a large-scale cocaine and heroin trafficking organization operating in Fayette and Washington counties.

This latest round of arrests brings the total charged in this drug operation to 46 people. The drug ring was active between the years of 2010 and 2015, until the FBI, State Police and U.S. Attorney's Office succeeded in breaking up the operation.

$1.1 million was seized in the massive drug bust.

The operation centered around two Croftcheck's Auto Sales locations, one in Fayette County and the other in Washington County. Officials say those cars were used to move the drugs in and around the area.

U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton says he hopes this drug bust will bringing relief to the area.

"The 19 defendants charged this week are among a series of indictments we have brought to disrupt and dismantle the cocaine and heroin trafficking networks that have been operating in Fayette and surrounding counties, menacing neighborhoods and threatening the quality of life of the law-abiding citizens who live here," said Hickton.

Below are the names of the 19 newly charged:

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• Rodney Harris, 43, of Uniontown
• Leslie Blakey, 50, of Uniontown
• Gary Bradley, 42, of Arnold
• David Crews, 40, of Monessen
• Joseph Croftcheck, 67, of Hopwood
• Allen Dade; 34, of Brownsville
• Barry Douglas, 41, of Waynesburg
• Jamal Eddings, 34, of Uniontown
• Kwame Eddings, 35, of Uniontown
• William Fitzgerald, 41, of Uniontown
• Gregory Gray, Sr., 53, of Vanderbilt
• Eugene Grooms, 40, of Brownsville
• Jermaine High, 42, of Hiller
• Darnell Howell, 44, formerly of Belle Vernon
• Terrance Lewis, 42, of Uniontown
• Thomas McGhee, 31, of Cardale
• Wesley Middleton, 37, of Brownsville
• Kent Ramsey, 42, of Uniontown
• Norman Thornton, 61, of Donora

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