Five indicted for deadly drug trafficking in Pittsburgh
A set of twins, their two cousins and one of their wives have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges they trafficked in heroin and fentanyl.
Charged are Brad Reed, 26, Pittsburgh, his twin brother Greg Reed, 26, Pittsburgh, their cousins Richard Ruby, 31, Pittsburgh and Justin McBride, 26, Munhall, and McBride's spouse, Antoinette McBride, 29, Munhall.
United States Attorney Scott W. Brady said the five have been linked to numerous overdoses.
“This indictment charges these five individuals for their roles in a criminal heroin (and) fentanyl trafficking organization that is responsible for causing two overdose deaths and four non-fatal overdoses in which the victims needed to be revived with naloxone,” stated U.S. Attorney Brady. “My office will continue to be relentless in our mission to identify and prosecute drug dealers, reduce overdoses and protect the people of Western Pennsylvania.”
According to court documents, beginning in January, 2014, and carrying on through the end of 2017, the five “conspired to distribute and possess with the intent distribute heroin and fentanyl.”
Court documents also say that around Oct. 3, 2016, Justin McBride distributed fentanyl which resulted in the death of user.
Prosecutors say sometime around Dec. 8, 2016, that Brad Reed caused serious injury to a heroin user with the drugs he distributed, and that his brother, Greg Reed, caused similar harm on Dec. 31.
Prosecutors say that around Jan. 30, 2017, Justin McBride caused the death of a drug user and that on July 1 he caused serious harm to another.
According to court documents the five maintained, at various times from 2014 to 2017, “various premises for manufacturing and distributing heroin and fentanyl.”
If convicted, the Reed brothers and Justin McBride are facing potential penalties including a minimum of 20 years in prison and fines of $2 million. Antoinette McBride and Ruby are facing potential penalties of a minimum five year prison sentence and fines of $5 million.
Matthew Medsger is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4675, mmedsger@tribweb.com or via Twitter @matthew_medsger.
