Local woman, 2 others plead guilty to cross-state drug trafficking ring participation

A local Pennsylvania woman and two others from Ohio and New Jersey pleaded guilty in federal court for their alleged connection to a cross-state drug trafficking ring.

A U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson says Melissa Frain, 36, of Indiana, entered a guilty plea on May 30 to charges of violating federal narcotics laws.

Also pleading were Robert Hurst, 46, of North Royalton, Ohio, and Kevin Thomas, 48, of Newark, N.J.

Officials say the three are among 27 people charged in March 2023 for their alleged participation in a cross-state narcotics conspiracy involving large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, crack and heroin.

Between about September 2021 and January 2022, Frain is said to have conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute quantities of mixtures of cocaine, fentanyl and crack.

The defendants will be sentenced on Sept. 17. They could face up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million or both.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

  • Related Posts

    Fort Scott man charged with trafficking meth

    KANSAS CITY, Kan. (WIBW) – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with drug trafficking. According to court documents, Jeffery Michael Roark,…

    Officials: MA man sentenced to 18 years in prison for leading drug trafficking organization

    MANCHESTER, N.H. — The leader of a drug organization that trafficked narcotics shaped like candy will spend nearly two decades behind bars, prosecutors said. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *