18 Face Charges in Drug, Gun Sweep

Police, AG announce results of Mon Valley enforcement blitz

By Staff Reports
The Tube City Almanac
September 16, 2025
Posted in: Crime and Police News

Eighteen people face charges and several have been jailed following a recently completed “Summer Suppression” initiative across several Mon-Yough communities, including McKeesport, state Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Tuesday.

At a press conference Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Sunday said the arrests came following a months-long program designed to get drugs and illegal weapons out of neighborhoods in the city as well as Clairton, Jefferson Hills and West Mifflin.

Sunday said that investigators seized 17 weapons, along with $40,000 worth of cocaine and quantities of heroin, fentanyl and marijuana.

The seized guns range from handguns to AR-15 assault rifles, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office said. Ammunition was recovered as well.

“Our community, from these events, reaps benefits of safer streets for our kids to play, without having to worry about having any act of violence,” McKeesport Police Chief Josh Alfer said.

A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office said the sweeps in several Mon Valley neighborhoods began Memorial Day weekend and continued through last week.

Agents from the state Attorney General’s office participated, along with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals Service, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, police from Clairton, McKeesport, Jefferson Hills and West Mifflin, and state probation and parole officers.

“The McKeesport community has experienced drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms — and violence that results from those elements, so we collaborated with partners to make a significant impact on reducing that criminal conduct,” Sunday said. “This was the perfect opportunity for our Allegheny County-based Gun Violence Task Force to join forces with local law enforcement to remove deadly firearms from neighborhoods and hold accountable the dangerous individuals toting them.” 

Charges have been filed against:

Brandon M. Dellapenna, 40, of McKeesport, charged Sept. 11 by McKeesport police with three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Dellapenna is jailed in lieu of $20,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 22 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi in McKeesport.

Edward Dudley III, 23, of McKeesport, charged June 30 by McKeesport police with possession of marijuana, carrying a firearm without a license, receiving stolen property and defiant trespass. Jailed in lieu of $5,000 bond. A non-jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 26 in Allegheny County Court.

Tara Fender, 27, of Port Vue, charged Sept. 9 by McKeesport police with drug possession, carrying a firearm without a license, receiving stolen property and a moving violation. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 22 before Riazzi.

Marcel Freeman, 19, of McKeesport, charged Sept. 10 by McKeesport police with carrying a firearm without a license, receiving stolen property, escape and evading arrest; also charged by McKeesport police July 18 with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, resisting arrest and related offenses in connection with a June 26 incident; Freeman is being held without bond pending a preliminary hearing Sept. 22 on the most recent charges.

Andre Fuller Jr., 35, of Munhall, charged June 3 by McKeesport police with carrying a firearm without a license, driving with a suspended registration and a moving violation. Fuller is free on bond pending formal arraignment Sept. 13.

Franklin Gribschaw, 46, no address, charged Sept. 10 by Clairton police with narcotics possession and possession with intent to deliver; free on $25,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Sept. 23 before Magisterial District Judge Armand Martin.

Noah Hamlin, 26, of Clairton, charged by state Attorney General’s office investigators with possession of drugs with intent to deliver, simple possession, possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended license in connection with a June 25 incident; free on $10,000 bond pending formal arraignment Oct. 7.

Tavion W. Hurt, 19, of McKeesport, charged June 19 by McKeesport police with carrying a firearm without a license, marijuana possession and a summary offense; free on bond pending a trial Nov. 28 before Allegheny County Judge Kelly Bigley.

Bailey Loveday, 37, of Clairton, charged Sept. 9 by Clairton police with drug possession, possession with intent to deliver and two moving violations; free on recognizance pending a hearing Sept. 23 before Martin.

Chance McIver, 31, of McKeesport, charged Aug. 19 by McKeesport police with obstruction of justice; also charged June 6 by McKeesport police with moving violations. Additional charges were withdrawn, court records indicate.

Oji S. Pride, 46, of McKeesport, charged Sept. 11 by McKeesport police with fleeing and eluding police, escape, speeding, reckless driving, careless driving and a variety of moving violations. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29 before Riazzi.

Marsean Scott, 24, of McKeesport, charged June 13 by McKeesport police with possession of marijuana, possession of drugs with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy and a related offense. Scott is free on bond pending a trial Nov. 8 before Administrative Judge Bruce R. Beemer in Pittsburgh.

Jaquan Smith, 29, of Munhall, charged Sept. 9 by McKeesport police with carrying a firearm without a license, receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of a firearm. Smith is being held without bail pending a preliminary hearing Sept. 22 before Riazzi.

Rontay Strothers, 41, of Mt. Oliver, charged Sept. 9 by McKeesport police with possession of narcotics and possession with intent to deliver. Strothers is awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Four other people also face charges, the attorney general’s office said. Court records indicated that the four suspects had not yet been arrested or charged.

Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus thanked the attorney general’s office and local police for their cooperation on the arrests.

”My office is committed to that mission each day and when needed and requested, we will absolutely provide the resources necessary to ensure that these types of initiatives accomplish the objective of a safer community to live, work and raise a family,” Kraus said.

Originally published September 16, 2025.

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