Mahoney's Broken Soapbox, Part 2

Posted: Friday, November 4, 2016 by Pezzonovante in Labels: ,
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In the early morning hours of May 5, 2015, federal authorities and other law enforcement agencies executed search warrants on 11 locations in Fayette County and neighboring counties.

A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article written around the time of the indictment (January 19, 2016) included this assessment by the U.S.  Attorney David J. Hickton:  “U.S. Attorney David Hickton said in announcing the new case Thursday in Uniontown that federal agents and police have dismantled interconnected drug networks that have been “menacing neighborhoods and threatening the quality of life of the law-abiding citizens” of Fayette County.””  [Emphasis added.]

On October 6, 2016, Rodney Harris, Defendant 1 in the indictment, in a Change of Plea, withdrew his plea of not guilty entered on January 20, 2016, and pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 2 in United States of America v. Rodney Harris – Case 2:16-cr-00004-DCS.

The indictment lays out the counts as follows:

Count 1:  Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine.  A felony.
Count 2:  Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin.  A felony.

On October 7, 2016, the government filed a Motion For Preliminary Order of Forfeiture against Harris.  In its motion, the government sought forfeiture of all right, title and interest in the following property:

  • Approximately $194,593 in United States currency;
  • A .44 Magnum caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, bearing serial number M721348, and rounds of .44 Magnum caliber ammunition;
  • A 9mm caliber semiautomatic Glock pistol, bearing serial number GCA715, and rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition; and
  • An Uzi submachine gun.

On October 11, 2016, U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone granted the government’s motion in a Preliminary Order of Forfeiture.

Harris faces a sentencing hearing before the Honorable David Stewart Cercone on Monday, February 27, 2017, at 10:30 AM.

This is not Rodney Harris’ first brush with the law.

See:  3 Uniontown men charged in drug ring, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 29, 2003.

See also:  Authorities charge 13 in cocaine ring, Herald-Standard, October 30, 2003.

See also:  Criminal Docket Northern District of Ohio.

Fayette Searchlight has learned from a reliable, confidential source that 48 Connellsville Street, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, was one of the locations targeted by the federal drug raids on May 5, 2015.

Property assessment records list the ownership as Rodney Harris et al.

Both a newspaper article on property transfers and a copy of the deed provide details of the January 9, 2013/$90,000.00 transfer of real property to Rodney Harris and Joseph J. Croftcheck, Sr., (Defendant 5 in the indictment).  The article and the copy of the deed list Timothy S. Mahoney as one of the primary counterparties.

At a recent forum, Rep. Timothy S. Mahoney (D-51) -- running on an Opioid Crisis platform -- was quoted as saying the following:  “We’ve lost this war with drugs this generation.  There’s just no doubt about it.”

With the above revelations, and with Rep. Tim Mahoney’s track record of poor judgment in representing the 51st Legislative District, is it any wonder?

In Mahoney's Broken Soap Box , this space pondered Rep. Tim Mahoney’s silence in the wake of the May 5 drug raids.
 
We think we now have the answer to our question.


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