In morning raids in Erie, FBI makes arrests on drug, weapon charges. 24 defendants named

Ed Palattella, Erie Times-News

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The FBI and police swept through neighborhoods in Erie on Wednesday seeking to arrest 24 residents on drug and weapons charges, including trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.

The sweeps occurred at the same time the indictments against the 24 were unsealed in U.S. District Court in Erie. The indictments were issued on Sept. 10 and unsealed once the arrests started, according to court records. The Erie Times-News initially reported the defendants numbered 23. The latest newly unsealed records put the number at 24.

One of the raids, police confirmed, occurred at a house in the 400 block of West 31st Street, near Chestnut Street, at about 6 a.m. Agents used a battering ram on the front door and used flash-bang grenades during the sweep of the house, a neighbor said.

The FBI and police raid a house in the 400 block of West 31st Street in Erie on Wednesday morning as part of a drug sweep in a large-scale federal case.
The FBI and police raid a house in the 400 block of West 31st Street in Erie on Wednesday morning as part of a drug sweep in a large-scale federal case.

Of the 24 defendants, six were indicted in their own cases. The other 18 were indicted in groups and on conspiracy charges. One group is made up of 14 defendants and another is made up of four defendants, according to court records.

As of Wednesday morning, all but eight of the defendants had been taken into custody, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Authorities were continuing their searches.

The Erie police were involved in the sweeps and assisted "their partners in a large-scale operation," Deputy Chief Rick Lorah said. The Pennsylvania State Police confirmed its troopers were also involved.

Names of defendants and the charges

According to court records, the following defendants were indicted:

Individual defendants

  • Christopher E. Barnes, charged with trafficking in meth on Dec. 13.

  • Darrian M. Brooks, charged with trafficking in fentanyl on May 3. Also charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and unlawfully using a firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking crime,, all also on May 3.

  • Oarmell B. Douglas, charged with trafficking in fentanyl, meth and cocaine on June 27.

  • Oujacquan A. Jones, charged with trafficking in fentanyl, meth and cocaine on June 11.

  • Lee Earl McLaurin Jr., charged with trafficking in cocaine from March 1 to June 9.

  • Miciah R. McLaurin, charged with trafficking in cocaine from March 1 to June 9. The McLaurins were indicted together.

Defendants charged in group of four

All four defendants are charged with conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl or meth in February and March of this year. The defendants in conspiracy cases are listed in the order in which their names appear in the indictment, with those alleged to be most culpable in the conspiracy listed highest.

  • Thomas D. Moffett, known as Tommy, also charged with possessing a handgun as a convicted felon.

  • Jaymii A. Davis

  • Elisabeth M. Burger

  • Paul S. Denning

A total of 24 defendants have been indicted in newly unsealed drug cases in U.S. District Court in Erie.
A total of 24 defendants have been indicted in newly unsealed drug cases in U.S. District Court in Erie.

Defendants charged in group of 14

All 14 defendants are charged with conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl or meth from September 2023 to June 27.

  • Colone D. Roberts, known as Cody, also charged with another drug offense and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The indictment alleges those incidents occurred May 29.

  • Amajaeon D. Moore, known as Apple, also charged with two other drug offenses and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The indictment alleges those incidents occurred May 29.

  • Onyeah L. Roberts

  • Shaliel D. Wall, also charged with another drug offense and unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The indictment alleges those incidents occurred May 29.

  • Dajuwon B. Faulkner, known as Scat, also charged with another drug offense in an incident May 16.

  • Oliver D. Williams

  • Jamaine J. Gambill

  • Noah D. Thomas

  • Desmar D. Sansom

  • Kory P. Durfey

  • Michael Ray Nelson, also known as Michael Edward Nelson, also charged with another drug offense in an incident May 16.

  • John A. Lauver, also charged with another drug offense in an incident May 16.

  • Deborah L. Bean

  • Terrell L. Stonewall

Initial court proceedings next for defendants

The arrested defendants will next appear for arraignments and detention hearings. Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lanzillo will preside over those proceedings and has already appointed lawyers to represent several defendants, according to court records.

The indictments and other documents offer few details about the cases, including what spurred the investigations. The defendants' ages were also not immediately available.

More information is expected to be released at a news conference that the Erie police said is scheduled for Thursday morning.

The indictments and Wednesday's sweeps come as the U.S. Attorney's Office in Erie has pursued a number of large-scale indictments that target illegal drugs such as fentanyl and meth and drug-related violence.

In May 2023, 58 defendants were indicted in the 4-Nation gang and drug case, making it the largest-ever criminal case prosecuted in Erie.

Staff writer Tim Hahn contributed to this report.

Contact epalattella@timesnews.com or 814-870-1813. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: FBI, police launch raid against alleged drug, weapon traffickers

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