Grand jury indicts 13 in gun, drug trafficking ring

Debbie Wachter, New Castle News, Pa.
·2 min read

May 20—The 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury has recommended charges against 13 individuals regarding a drug and gun trafficking ring based in Erie and Crawford counties, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced.

The Lawrence County District Attorney's detectives and the New Castle Police Department assisted other departments in investigating the case.

An arrest operation began when the alleged head of the ring — 25-year-old Quran Lindsey-Cooley — was arrested on numerous charges including corrupt organizations, felony drugs and firearms offenses and related offenses. Investigators allege Lindsey-Cooley and Daymeon Duck, 26, coordinated the trafficking operation, using associates to sell fentanyl/heroin and methamphetamine and supply them with firearms.

Agents seized in serving multiple search warrant operations quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, pills containing fentanyl, seven firearms and cash proceeds from trafficking.

The Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigations tracked Lindsey-Cooley, Duck, and their associates — initiating grand jury proceedings in 2022 that resulted in a recent presentment.

"This network of defendants was committed to pushing poisons into numerous communities in the northwest corner of the Commonwealth, and they possessed firearms to protect their profitable operation," Henry said. "I commend the agents involved in tracking down this ring, and thank the grand jurors for their time and attention, which has made many neighborhoods safer as a result."

Charged and arrested were: Lindsey-Cooley (bail set at $250,000), Duck (posted $75,000 bail), Tyreem Craig (bail set at $250,000), Tiffany Fletcher (bail set at $50,000), Steven Mills (bail set at $50,000), Kaelesha Johnson (released on unsecured bail), Penny Cattledge (released on $100,000 unsecured bail), Jody Joint (awaiting arraignment) and Antonio Jefferson (released on $50,000 unsecured bail).

Four other charged individuals are not in custody. They are Brant Rittenhouse, Kevin Carter, Edwin Peelman and Dustin Sudul.

Also participating in the investigation were the City of Erie Bureau of Police, City of Meadville Police, City of St. Marys Police, Elk County District Attorney's Detective Bureau, Edinboro Borough Police, Emporium Borough Police, Erie County District Attorney's Detective Bureau, Girard Borough Police, Lake City Borough of Police and the Millcreek Township Police.

The Office of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section will prosecute the defendants. All charges are accusations and the defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty.