Tag: July 2015
Erie Predator Melter Indicted in Child Exploitation Case
Erie Predator Melter Indicted in Child Exploitation Case ERIE, Pa. – Douglas E. Melter, 32, formerly of Erie, Pennsylvania, is facing a lifetime behind bars after a federal grand jury handed down a three-count indictment charging him with sickening crimes against children. The indictment, announced today by United States Attorney David J. Hickton, details a…
Franklin Sex Offender, Thomas Baker, Faces Federal Charges
ERIE, Pa. – Thomas K. Baker, 55, formerly of Franklin, Pennsylvania, is facing federal charges after being indicted by a grand jury in Erie for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements. The indictment, announced today by United States Attorney David J. Hickton, alleges Baker knowingly neglected to update his registration as mandated by…
Uniontown Narcotics Kingpin Gets 12½ Years
PITTSBURGH – The grim reaper of Uniontown’s streets, Darrell Howard Foster, 35, has been meted out a severe sentence by federal judges. Foster is now staring down the barrel of a dozen and a half years in the slammer for his sinister dealings in crack cocaine. The United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced that…
Ambridge Conspirator Smith Gets 3-Year Prison Term for Stolen Credit Card Scam
PITTSBURGH – The grim reaper of credit card fraud, Calvin Smith, 43, from Ambridge, PA, has been handed a 36-month sentence for his involvement in a colossal scheme to steal and misuse American Express and Discover Card account numbers. United States Attorney David J. Hickton was the one who announced today’s ominous verdict, as United…
Oxycodone & Bets: PA Pharmacist Gets 40 Months
PITTSBURGH, PA – A Pittsburgh-area pharmacist traded prescription pads for poker money, and now Charles Brian Griffin, 27, is paying the price. Griffin pleaded guilty to federal narcotics violations and was sentenced to 40 months behind bars, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today. The scheme ran from March 2011 to February 2012, while…
Monroeville Heroin Kingpin Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking
PITTSBURGH – Antonio Hardin, 32, a Monroeville native, has entered a guilty plea in federal court for his role in a violent heroin trafficking conspiracy. United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced the charges against Hardin, who pleaded before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. The accused conspired with several co-defendants from April 2012 to…
Calidonio-Castillo Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry
PITTSBURGH, PA – Illegal alien Josue Elias Calidonio-Castillo, 29, of Honduras, has been sentenced to time served for his illegal re-entry into the United States after being deported. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney David J. Hickton. Calidonio-Castillo had previously been removed from the U.S. by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on…
Baca-Ortiz Faces Jail Time for Illegal Return
PITTSBURGH, PA – Wilson Baca-Ortiz, 33, is facing federal charges after being caught back inside the United States despite a previous deportation order. The Honduran national was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh this week, adding another name to the growing list of individuals attempting to circumvent U.S. immigration laws. According to the…
Pittsburgh Coke Kingpin Harris Admits to Major Drug Charges
PITTSBURGH, PA – Edward Harris, 38, of Pittsburgh, has confessed to running a significant drug operation in Allegheny County. The bust, a joint effort between federal and local law enforcement, finally caught up with Harris, who admitted to possessing a substantial quantity of both powder and crack cocaine, clearly intending to peddle the poison for…
Johnstown’s Calderon Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution
Johnstown, Pa. – A chilling echo of illegal drug activity shook Johnstown when Nieves Calderon, III, 36, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing a controlled substance. United States Attorney David J. Hickton broke the news, detailing the grim charges against the Laurel Highlands resident. The plea came before United States District Judge Kim R.…
