Lightfoot DTO Leader Pleads Guilty to Federal Narcotics Charge

PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of New Salem, PA, has pleaded guilty to a federal narcotics charge, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Devon Bell, age 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine before Chief United States District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak. Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for September 20, 2020 at 10:00 am. Bell has been detained since his initial appearance in federal court on April 25, 2018 and will continue to remain detained pending sentence.

According to information presented to the court, from January 2015 to November 2017, Devon Bell conspired with Jamie Lightfoot, Jr., Deaubre Lightfoot, and other members of the Lightfoot DTO in order to acquire large quantities of cocaine for distribution in and around Fayette County. Jamie Lightfoot, Jr. and Deaubre Lightfoot would deliver large quantities of cocaine to Bell at multiple locations in Fayette County, including his residence in New Salem, PA. Bell would then use his home and multiple other residences to re-package the cocaine and distribute it to other drug customers and co-conspirators in Fayette County and elsewhere.

The law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years and/or a fine of not more than $5,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and Shaun Sweeney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the South Strabane Police Department, the Elizabeth Borough Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department and the Perryopolis Police Department, conducted the investigation that led to the Indictment in this case.

This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, known as OCDETF. OCDETF was established in 1982 to support comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It is the keystone of the drug reduction strategy of the Department of Justice. By combining the resources and expertise of federal agencies and their state and local law enforcement partners, OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations.