35 charged in drug ring in city's southern neighborhoods
The investigation that brought FBI agent Samuel Hicks to a fatal encounter Wednesday snared dozens of people connected to a large-scale drug ring operating primarily in Mt. Washington, Allentown, Brookline and Beltzhoover.
A 27-count indictment against 35 suspects was unsealed yesterday in U.S. District Court, Downtown. Some suspects are accused of distributing and conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of crack from October 2007 through September.
Some were charged with conspiring to obtain and distribute prescription drugs, including OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin and Xanax, from June 2007 through August.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti said the investigation included "months of wiretaps," visual surveillance, controlled drug buys and seizures.
In addition to the FBI, the investigation involved the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Pittsburgh police and the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, court documents show.
Thirty of the defendants were in custody by 6 p.m. Five others were still being sought.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa P. Lenihan ordered more than half of the defendants to be kept at the county jail until their detention hearings Monday.
Among those detained was Robert Ralph Korbe, 39, whose wife is charged with fatally shooting Hicks. Christina Korbe, 40, was not charged in the drug indictment.
Robert Korbe is charged with two counts of distributing cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack.
Among those released on bond was Nadine Marie Russo, former girlfriend of boxer Paul Spadafora, who served 13 months in prison for shooting Russo in October 2003. Spadafora is not accused of involvement in the drug ring.
Russo said she did not know Korbe.
"My ex-boyfriend shot me, but I really don't associate with people like that," said Russo, who was placed on house arrest.
She faces charges of distributing cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack, and conspiracy to obtain and distribute prescription drugs.
Seven defendants did not appear in court.
In September, agents arrested Anthony Terry Jr., Jamill Denson and Victor Nelson, who are charged with being part of the conspiracy.
They were attempting to buy 10 to 15 kilograms of cocaine, Rivetti said. Court documents show the drugs were coming from a Massachusetts supplier and agents seized more than $150,000, firearms and bulletproof vests from the men.
