Accused drug dealer testifies against alleged heroin supplier

An accused Westmoreland County drug dealer testified that he regularly got the kind of heroin his clientele preferred delivered to him in Jeannette, or he picked it up in Clairton or McKeesport.

Clients liked heroin stamp bags branded "Palm Tree," testified Chauncy L. Bray, 27.

"They were good dope, it wasn't cut with any fentanyl," he said, referring to a potentially deadly synthetic opioid that can be mixed with heroin.

He identified Lindsey R. Wright, 37, of Clairton, as the man from whom he bought between 100 and 200 bricks of heroin monthly and brought into Westmoreland County for sale during Wright's preliminary hearing Wednesday. The proceeding was held at the Westmoreland County courthouse as an added security precaution.

District Judge L. Anthony Bompiani ordered that Wright, who represented himself during the three-hour hearing, stand trial on numerous corrupt organization, conspiracy and drug charges.

Wright was one of three "major" suppliers arrested in May for allegedly directing large quantities of heroin to Bray, who is accused of distributing it to six low-level dealers in the county. He made between $50 and $100 per brick, which consists of 50 stamp bags. The low-level dealers are now his co-defendants.

Bray testified that he met Wright in 2015 and started working with him as a supplier in late summer 2016. He said he didn't have a plea deal with prosecutors on his own corrupt organization and drug charges, for which he was arrested in February. His bond is $1 million.

"I'm here because I was betrayed," Bray said, adding he hopes to get leniency in his case.

Witness Dorion M. Nash, 38, of Clairton, started working with Wright about a year ago and would get 50 to 60 bricks of heroin monthly while accompanying him on trips to drop off drugs and pick up cash in Jeannette and Youngwood, he testified.

Wright was arrested on April 12 along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County during a return trip from Philadelphia after state troopers found a large quantity of heroin in his possession. Those charges have been withdrawn and were folded into the Westmoreland case.

Nash said he is fearful for his life. He reported a death threat related to Wright's Somerset arrest to Clairton police.

"I'm getting my life back" by testifying, he said on cross-examination.

Wright argued with both witnesses and raised his voice while cross-examining them. He questioned Bray's testimony about fitting bricks of heroin in his pants pockets.

"That's impossible, Mr. Bray," Wright said.

"It's not impossible," Bray responded.

Wright called Nash a "compulsive liar" and questioned why he isn't charged.

"You want me to tell the truth?" Nash asked, and Wright changed his line of questioning.

Wright argued that prosecutors presented no physical evidence, only witness statements.

"It was clear to see that they was somewhat coerced to their statements," he said.

Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar described Wright as an "entrepreneur" who conducted "countless heroin sales of a substantial quantity each time" over several months.

Bompiani denied Wright bail after a 30-minute hearing following the court proceeding. He previously had set Wright's bail at $1 million.

During the hearing, prosecutors played a Facebook Live video Wright made that describes a monstrous and crazy side. Lazar said witnesses could be in danger if Wright posts bail.

"He lives by fear," Lazar argued. "His entire existence in this world is perpetuated by the fear he instills in every one."

Wright argued that the video was "just a way of speaking."

"We come from different backgrounds, we come from different types of areas," he said. "To you, it might be weird. To me, it might be the way we talk."

"You have a black-people background and a white-people background — people talk two different ways," Wright argued.

In 2012, Wright was acquitted by an Allegheny County jury for fatally shooting Tauvea Hurt, 20, of Clairton, on Jan. 1, 2011. Hurt was one of four suspects accused of shooting Wright's brother, who is serving a life sentence for his role in the murder.

Renatta Signorini is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach her at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@tribweb.com or via Twitter at @byrenatta.