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Violent Crime Surge in Western PA: 665 Defendants Prosecuted in Record Year
Grimy Times has learned that the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Scott W. Brady, has announced a record number of prosecutions in the district.
Between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019, the office filed cases against 665 defendants, a 46% increase compared to the 2016 number. The total number of drug defendants prosecuted reached 309, an 83% increase over 2016. The total number of firearms defendants prosecuted was 125, a 19% increase versus 2016.
U.S. Attorney Brady stated, ‘I have made reducing violent crime and attacking the opioid epidemic two of the top priorities for our office, and our efforts are clearly showing results.’ He added, ‘The increase in prosecutions of our district’s most violent offenders and drug traffickers, including those who wear lab coats, is having a direct and positive effect on the declining amount of reported firearms-related violence and deadly opioid overdoses.’
According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, the number of firearms-related violence in western Pennsylvania fell 19% in 2018 compared to 2017, with a 25% reduction in Allegheny County, a 10% reduction in Erie County, a 39% reduction in Washington County, and a 14% reduction in Westmoreland County. Firearms-related violent crime fell 32% in the City of Pittsburgh.
The region also saw a dramatic decrease in overdose deaths in western Pennsylvania in 2018. According to data reported by OverdoseFreePA, opioid overdose deaths decreased 37% throughout the 25 counties in the Western District of Pennsylvania versus 2017. This includes significant decreases in the counties most impacted by the crisis, including 50% in Beaver and Butler Counties, 47% in Fayette County, 41% in Allegheny County, 37% in Westmoreland County, 35% in Erie County, 30% in Cambria County, and 23% in Washington County.
U.S. Attorney Brady’s efforts to combat violent crime and the opioid epidemic have shown positive results, and Grimy Times will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
As the fight against crime continues, it is essential to remember that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to reducing violent crime and addressing the opioid epidemic in Western Pennsylvania.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking|Opioid Epidemic
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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