The Middle District of Pennsylvania’s United States Attorney’s Office recently disclosed that seven individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury. The Superseding Indictment includes charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance resulting in death and serious bodily injury, two counts of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury, two counts of brandishing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, kidnapping, and aggravated identity theft. The indicted individuals are Amanda Marie Correa (29), Robert Andrew Barnes (24), Christine Deann DiCarlo (50), Shaqare Jaymont Blackwell (23), Shakur Serafin Brownstein (27), Dylan Wilson Small (35), and Samual Jordan (42).
The “Fentanyl Robbery Gang (F.R.G.),” a group of individuals accused of drug and gun trafficking and linked to New York gangs, used dating websites to lure people interested in hiring prostitutes, according to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam. The gang members and associates arranged to meet their victims and then robbed them of cash, firearms, cellular telephones, debit and credit cards, identification documents, drugs, and other valuable items.
According to the superseding indictment, fentanyl overdose has led to the untimely death of four individuals. Three of the fatalities took place in Berks and Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, while one occurred in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The seven individuals listed in the indictment are presently in custody. Law enforcement is working tirelessly to uncover the identities of other members and associates of F.R.G. and to locate further victims. The FBI has urged anyone with information about F.R.G. to come forward by calling 570-344-2404. It is an ongoing investigation and the authorities are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice.
Fox56 has reported that an investigation is currently underway into more than 50 potential crime scenes. The investigation has revealed over 50 victims across several states, including Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.
A collaboration between various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, United States Marshals Service – Scranton office, and several district attorney offices in Pennsylvania resulted in the charges. The case was also investigated by the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, along with other state and local law enforcement agencies. Todd K. Hinkley and Luisa Honora Berti, Assistant United States Attorneys, are handling the prosecution.
