State police and FBI agents early Tuesday stormed homes in Charleroi, Donora and Monessen as part of a two-year undercover drug investigation.

State police from the Belle Vernon barracks and officers from Monessen and Donora worked on the drug sweep that targeted 61 mid- to upper-level dealers from Westmoreland, Fayette and Washington counties, Monessen police Chief Mark Gibson said.

State police said the primary focus of the sweep was cocaine and crack cocaine. Several investigations involved the illegal sale of pills and other drugs. Officers also seized several firearms and other contraband, police said.

Raids were conducted in the 100 block of McKean Avenue in Charleroi, along Third Street in Donora and on McKee Avenue in Monessen.

By 9 a.m., police took away in handcuffs at least two people from a house at 131 McKean Ave. Officers knocked down the doors of the house and broke out windows in a predawn raid.

Authorities said they had been investigating sales of illegal drugs for two years in Monessen; Donora and Charleroi in Washington County; and Fayette City, Belle Vernon, Brownsville and Hiller in Fayette County. Assistance in the raids was provided by the Washington County Drug Task Force; the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; sheriffs from Washington and Westmoreland counties; and Fayette County Tactical Medics.

By yesterday afternoon, warrants had been served on 30 suspects, who were taken to various district courts for arraignment.

Three suspects were taken into custody on federal warrants. They were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh:

• Edward A. Alford II, 20, of 131 McKean Ave., Donora, four counts, including distribution and possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine.

• Christie Arnold, 34, of 2306 Main St., Monongahela, also known as Christie Lightfoot and "Critter," one court of distributing crack cocaine.

• Brendon E. Thomas, 28, of 302 Third St., Donora, one count of distribution and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

State police ask anyone with information on suspects to contact the Belle Vernon station at 724-929-6262.

"I am very glad to see these things come together," said Donora Mayor John Lignelli. "I just hope they keep coming after these drug dealers. They serve no purpose to society and do nothing but hurt families."

He said former Donora police Officer Brent Massafra was heavily involved in the undercover work before he left the borough to join state police.

"That was a big loss for the borough and a tremendous gain for the state to have a guy who is so dedicated," Lignelli said.

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