NORTH HUNTINGDON – A $1.4 million cocaine ring, which operated from Detroit, Michigan, to western Pennsylvania, was broken up by agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI).
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the arrests are the result of a nine-month investigation, known as “Operation Final Run,” into the trafficking and distribution of large quantities of cocaine in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, and the alleged “Detroit connection” for that organization.
Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.
According to the grand jury, the investigation began in the summer of 2008 after agents arranged a series of controlled cocaine purchases from Kevin “Kev” Hoadwonic in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, which eventually led investigators to uncover a substantial organizational structure and Detroit connections.
Corbett said that several key suspects arrested today are Detroit residents or have ties to that city, including three defendants who are allegedly part of the violent Detroit street gang; the “A-Team.”
According to agents, Julio “Chimo” Olivo was the second in command in the gang’s hierarchy, which allegedly established a drug distribution territory within the Detroit area. The A-Team is known to be a very violent organization, which uses any means necessary to protect its drug territory.
The grand jury found that mid-level dealers, Samuel Thomas of McKeesport, and his partner, Charles “Chuck” Edwards of Detroit acted as go-betweens in the cocaine distribution. The two had numerous connections in western Pennsylvania and were able to supply them with cocaine on a regular basis from their associates in Detroit.
Corbett said that Samuel Thomas’s main connection to the Detroit cocaine pipeline was his brother, Andre “Dre” Thomas, who was also identified as an A-Team member. Andre Thomas was one of the main cocaine sources in Detroit and allegedly used a west-coast connection to supply his brother with enough cocaine for redistribution in McKeesport and other communities.
“This organization effectively used local drug connections, which had ties to dealers in Detroit, to purchase and transport one to two kilograms of cocaine per month to Westmoreland and Allegheny counties,” Corbett said. “The drugs were then repackaged into smaller quantities for street-level sales.”
The grand jury found that Andre Thomas lost his west coast cocaine connection in December 2008 and introduced his brother’s Pennsylvania connections to fellow gang member, Julio Olivo.
The charges state that Olivo, who became head of the A-Team after the gang’s leader was arrested in early 2009, frequently travelled to Pennsylvania in December 2008 and January 2009 to meet with local members of the organization and discuss future cocaine transactions.
“These drug dealers had a very active and profitable business,” Corbett said. “Like all business ventures, you go where there is a demand for your product. The drug dealers from Detroit knew that southwestern Pennsylvania would provide them with lucrative profits and capitalized on those connections.”
Corbett said that this organization was responsible for the distribution of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine in 2008 with an estimated street value of $1.4 million.
As the investigation progressed, agents developed substantial surveillance and information about when the Detroit dealers were traveling to Pennsylvania. On Jan. 30, 2009, agents observed Olivo and three other individuals exit a Greyhound bus station in Pittsburgh to meet their local associates.
According to the grand jury, a traffic stop was conducted as their vehicle was en route from Pittsburgh to North Huntingdon. Agents recovered one kilo of cocaine, which was packaged and wrapped in duct tape.
Over the course of the investigation agents seized 3,142 grams of cocaine, 1.7 grams of marijuana, numerous pills, a stolen .38 Special Taurus pistol, a digital scale, smoking pipes, cutting agents, plastic bags and $18,300 cash from members of the organization.
Corbett noted that FBI agents seized a 10 mm handgun allegedly used in two homicides following a search of Olivo’s Detroit residence. Members of the “A Team” have been linked to seven shootings in the Detroit area, some of which were fatal.
“As a direct result of the arrest of the gang leader in Detroit and the arrests of Olivo, Andre Thomas, and Bailey, the “A Team” has been dismantled,” Corbett said.
Corbett noted that the FBI currently has two active homicide warrants for A-Team member, Edward Winston. Winston was not directly connected to this cocaine investigation, but is considered to be extremely dangerous. Anyone with information regarding Winston or his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (313) 596-2300.
The defendants will be prosecuted in Westmoreland County by Deputy Attorney General Tomm Mutschler of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation.
Corbett thanked the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police Organized Crime Unit, the Irwin Police Department, the North Huntingdon Police Department, the Jefferson Police Department, the Rostraver Police Department, and the McKeesport Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them.
— Julio “Chimo” Olivo, 23, Detroit, MI, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, corrupt organizations, criminal use of a communication facility and criminal conspiracy.
— Andre “Dre” Thomas, 23, Detroit, MI, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, corrupt organizations, and criminal conspiracy.
–Charles “Chuck” Edwards, 30, Detroit, MI, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, corrupt organizations, and criminal conspiracy.
— David M. Bailey, 23, Detroit, MI, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, and criminal conspiracy.
— Samuel Thomas, 35, 1818 Packer Street, McKeesport, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, corrupt organizations, criminal use of a communication facility, and criminal conspiracy.
— Kevin “Kev” Hoadwonic, 42, Smithton, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, corrupt organizations, criminal use of a communication facility, and criminal conspiracy.
— Brian “LA” Dixon, 41, West Newton, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, corrupt organizations, criminal use of a communication facility, and criminal conspiracy.
–Derrick “D” Dow, 30, Smithton, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine, corrupt organizations, criminal use of a communication facility, criminal conspiracy, and receiving stolen property.
— Gary Ogg, 27, West Newton, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, and possession of cocaine.
