AG Josh Shapiro's Office Announces Seizure Of Fentanyl And Guns In Braddock
By: Patrick Damp and Andy Sheehan/KDKA-TV
HARRISBURG (KDKA) - A coordinated effort between local police and the office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro ended with an arrest and a seizure of over $1 million in fentanyl in Braddock.
Domonique Taylor was taken into custody and the execution of a search warrant at his property found guns, $1.4 million worth of fentanyl and more than a half-million dollars in cash.
"This is the largest bust involving fentanyl and guns in western Pennsylvania in recent memory," Shapiro told KDKA's Andy Sheehan. "Seven hundred thousand doses of the lethal and illegal drug fentanyl, he was trying to put out on our streets. We seized that."
Overall, 14 kilograms of fentanyl, 1 kilogram of cocaine, marijuana, six vehicles, six guns, and $545,738 were taken by law enforcement.
According to the criminal affidavit, agents had Taylor under surveillance for some time, observing him at his home on Moody Street and another house he owns on Camp Avenue, where they say they observed him stashing duffel bags full of drugs in a garage. But Shapiro would not say whether he acted alone.
"What I'll say at this time is our investigation is very active and very ongoing," Shapiro said. "Though we've made an arrest of this defendant, who is a high-level drug dealer in the community, we're not done."
Taylor is already a convicted felon, so the possession of six firearms is a violation.
Shapiro called him a merchant of death for the massive distribution of the deadly drug Fentanyl.
"We know we saved lives. We took a dangerous criminal off our streets," he said.
Shapiro added that the importance of getting fentanyl off the streets cannot be understated.
"When you look across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we're losing 14 people a day to overdoses and nearly every single one is attributed to fentanyl. It is far more potent than heroin and it's killing far too many people."
KDKA's Andy Sheehan spoke with Phil DiLucente, Taylor's attorney, on Thursday. He said he has no comment on the arrest until he has more discussions with his client.