PENNSYLVANIA — Three Allegheny County residents are among eight people indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges related to cocaine and fentanyl trafficking, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
The defendants include Derrick Lyman, 59, of McKeesport; Daniel Jackson, 48, of Penn Hills; and Devlin Clifford, 46, of Monroeville. The others charged are Robert East, 69, of Delaware, Ohio; Jose Sanchez-Polanco, 43, of Lawrence, Mass.; Ernesto Castillo, 29, of Lynwood, Calif.; Ricardo Escalona, 41, of Winter Park, Fla.; and Dionisio Gonzalez-Diaz, 57, of Homestead, Fla.
According to the indictment, Castillo and Escalona possessed with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine on May 28 and June 6, 2024, respectively. The indictment also alleges all eight defendants conspired to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl on June 27, 2024.
Jackson is additionally charged with possessing more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, while Clifford is accused of possessing more than 500 kilograms of cocaine. Lyman, Jackson and Clifford also face firearm charges as prohibited persons due to prior drug trafficking convictions.
If convicted, Lyman and Clifford face 15 years to life in prison and fines up to $20 million. Jackson and the remaining defendants could receive 10 years to life and fines up to $10 million. The firearm charges carry potential penalties of five years to life and fines up to $250,000.
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative aimed at dismantling drug cartels, international criminal networks, and human trafficking operations.
