19 people in 4 counties accused of trafficking cocaine, heroin into Fayette

A cross-country drug trafficking ring allegedly involved transactions through a car dealership owned by a Hopwood man, who is among 19 people charged in connection with the largest illegal drug operation in Fayette County, authorities said.

“We believe that we have broken the largest interconnected drug organization that has plagued Fayette County for many years,” U.S. Attorney David Hickton said Thursday during a news conference announcing the indictments at the state police barracks in Uniontown.

Officials said the arrests dismantled a drug organization that shipped heroin and cocaine from New York and California into Fayette and Washington counties. Authorities seized more than $1 million in cash, a large number of guns, cars and other assets from the 19 suspects, Hickton said.

“Our strategy has been to identify, disrupt, dismantle and remove the individuals who use drugs as their currency and violence as their method of enforcement to traffic illegal drugs and guns throughout Western Pennsylvania to terrorize the law-abiding citizens we all serve,” Hickton said.

Several agencies assisted in the multi-year investigation, including the FBI, state police and the county drug task force.

“This group operated for years, poisoning Western Pennsylvania with illegal drugs, with heroin and cocaine. They were a great contributor to the addiction problem that we see throughout Western Pennsylvania,” said Raymond Duda, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh office.

The 19 suspects — from Fayette, Westmoreland, Washington and Greene counties — join 27 others who were indicted for working for the drug network since the investigation began in 2011. According to court filings, Joseph Croftcheck, 67, used his Croftcheck Auto Sales and a home he owns to facilitate drug sales.

The indictments are seeking the forfeiture of:

• A house at 210 Woodstock Ave., South Union, which is owned by Croftcheck, according to county records.

• $930,142 seized from a Martha Avenue home in South Union owned by Croftcheck.

• $194,593 from a Cleveland Avenue home in Uniontown owned by Rodney Harris, 43.

• $15,465 from an Oakland Avenue home in Uniontown owned by Leslie Blakey, 50, and others.

• A pistol, a revolver and a submachine gun seized from a home on Rear Murray Avenue in Uniontown. It is unclear who owns the weapons.

Authorities used a wiretap to investigate the operation, Hickton said. He declined to say whether any other arrests are expected.

“We're gathering enough data in these investigations where we're beginning to understand ... the supply networks,” he said.

It's important for communities to respond to major arrests in a way that will address prevention, addiction, treatment and education, Hickton said, while authorities chip away at the drug supply.

“I think we're all getting better at that, I think we're all recognizing that that is a very, very good investment,” he said.

Drug overdoses have risen to epidemic levels locally and nationally. In Fayette County, the coroner's office investigated 41 overdose deaths in 2015, 40 in 2014 and 29 in 2013.

The Washington County coroner investigated 66 overdose deaths in 2015, according to a Dec. 16 report. The coroner investigated 36 overdose deaths in 2014 and 58 in 2013, according to reports.

“We in law enforcement recognize that we have to do our best and up our game and make sure we're doing our part on the supply side,” Hickton said.

District Attorney Rich Bower said the county's drug task force is going to change how it operates. He declined to elaborate. It has been renamed the Fayette County Bureau of Investigation. Bower recently started work as the county's top prosecutor after being elected in November.

“There are things that we're doing inside of the organization and where we're planning on going,” Bower said.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-837-5374 or rsignorini@tribweb.com.