26 Charged in ‘Shot Boyz’ Drug, Gun Ring Bust

Twenty-six western Pennsylvania residents are behind bars following a sweeping federal indictment targeting the violent street gang known as the ‘Shot Boyz,’ accused of flooding Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh’s East Hills with heroin, fentanyl, and gunfire. The charges, unsealed today, stem from a five-month Title III wiretap investigation led by the Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, marking one of the largest coordinated strikes against organized drug violence in the region this year.

The first indictment, returned August 19 and now public, names Tyric Allen, 25, of Pittsburgh; Phillip Ahmad-Revis, 20, of Pittsburgh; Djuan Beasley, 20, of Swissvale; Marcus Best, 27, of Munhall; Davon Cleveland, 20, of Pittsburgh; Donshae Dunning, 32, of McKeesport; Dominic Fields, 33, of McKeesport; Donald Hantz, 37, of Latrobe; Taire Hardeman, 20, of Wilkinsburg; Natrell Jeffries, 21, of Wilkinsburg; Mandee Kozar, 34, of Latrobe; Seth Lindsey, 26, of Verona; Davon Loveings, 29, of Pittsburgh; Bryan Matthews, 31, of Penn Hills; Tayvon Mattox, 20, of Pittsburgh; Barbara McClure, 46, of Latrobe; Jerome Pleasant-Simpson, 25, of Pittsburgh; Parris Scott, 20, of Pittsburgh; Nikki Sherback, 35, of Latrobe; and Robert Smiley, 30, of Pittsburgh. All face federal narcotics and firearms charges.

“The Shot Boyz gang is done,” declared U.S. Attorney Scott Brady at a press conference in Pittsburgh, vowing to dismantle violent criminal networks plaguing the city’s East End. “For far too long, the people of Homewood, Wilkinsburg, and the East Hills have endured relentless gunfire, overdose deaths, and fear. This takedown sends a clear message: we’re prosecuting the most dangerous offenders and removing them from our streets.”

FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman called the operation a turning point in community safety. “This gang terrorized neighborhoods with brazen drug sales and shootings. No resident should fear stepping outside, or sending their kids to school, because of criminals like these. These arrests are the first step toward reclaiming those streets.”

John Schmidt, acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division, emphasized the role of gun tracing and interagency coordination. “ATF is laser-focused on those driving gun violence. This case proves that when federal, state, and local forces unite, we can dismantle entire trafficking networks before more lives are lost.”

Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert and Latrobe Police Chief John Sleasman praised the multi-jurisdictional effort, noting the seizure of lethal narcotics bound for Westmoreland County. “The flow of heroin and fentanyl into Latrobe will be dramatically reduced,” said Sleasman. “This is a victory for every family tired of senseless overdoses and shootings. The work continues—but today, justice landed hard.”

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