6 Drug Dealers Charged In Allegheny County's First Carfentanil Seizure
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Six men are facing charges in the first known seizure of carfentanil in Allegheny County.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Thursday that the six men are accused of selling $750,000 worth of carfentanil, fentanyl and heroin in Allegheny County over the past year.
This case is the first known seizure of carfentanil by the Office of Attorney General in Allegheny County. Carfentanil is used as a tranquilizer for large animals, such as elephants, and is 10,000 times more potent than morphine.
Those facing charges include 29-year-old Deondray Beasley of Homestead, 22-year-old Derek Williams of Munhall, 30-year-old Dorrean Watson of Pittsburgh, 29-year-old James Wells of North Braddock, 27-year-old Patrick Sanders of Duquesne and 29-year-old Rand Wolford of Braddock.
Police say the investigation started when Beasley, determined to be the organizer of the drug ring, was observed making a drug deal. When officers moved in, they discovered carfentinil laced in the heroin, something that had not been seen in our area before.
"The carfentinil was being put out onto the street, and Beasley and his people were not many any efforts to reveal to the potential victims that this was the highly deadly carfentinil," Allegheny County Police Lt. Jeff Korczyk said. "We thought the danger to the community was far worse than us trying to continue to follow the investigation."
Sanders and Williams were arrested Thursday morning. Beasley and Watson were previously incarcerated in the in the Allegheny County Jail.
Wells and Wolford are still at large.
The six men will face felony charges of criminal conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver.
