Major Western PA Cocaine Ring Broken Up

BUTLER COUNTY, PA —Thirteen people have been arrested in connection with a cocaine trafficking ring that made hundreds of trips from Ohio to Western Pennsylvania over the past year.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said the people were charged with felony corrupt organizations, drug trafficking offenses and related crimes. Efforts to take all of those accused into custody are ongoing, Sunday said.

Investigators allege seven upper-level dealers from Youngstown, Ohio trafficked cocaine and crack cocaine to Butler County, distributing the drugs directly to buyers or through 0thers who lived in Butler County.

“This criminal organization made routine — sometimes daily — trips into Pennsylvania to distribute poisons into our communities,” Sunday said in a statement. “Working with our partners, these arrests effectively shut down a major cocaine trafficking pipeline.”

The seven charged Ohio-based dealers are:

• Anthony “Ace” Chilton
• Marquel “Money” Winphrie
• Reinaldo Rosado Lizardi
• Eddie “Ghost” Winphrie
• Jumal McQueen
• Two other men who are not being named as they are still being sought.

The five Ohio-based defendants in custody were arrested i that state. Others charged are: Jason White, Mylan Green, Daniel Morehead, Brittany Boring, Shaddi Shanaa, and Donald Vargo.

Investigators allege the Butler County-based dealers were paid in cash or drugs.

The charges result from a collaborative investigation between the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Butler County District Attorney’s Office and the Butler City Police Department. The investigation also involved statewide investigative grand jury proceedings.