PITTSBURGH — Seven New Castle residents and six more from Pittsburgh were among 17 people indicted this week, accused of running a cocaine distribution ring that violated federal narcotics, money laundering and postal laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced Friday. The three separate but related indictments were returned May 8.

“This was an investigation that started at the local level and we quickly realized we needed the help of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration,” Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa said Friday. “Through the cooperation of local, state and federal agencies, we were able to make a substantial impact on drug trafficking in Lawrence County.”

The indictments follow an 18-month investigation of a multi-state drug distribution network allegedly led by Hector Forbes, 45, of Pomona, Calif., in which cocaine was sold throughout the country, including in New Castle and Pittsburgh. The group used the mail to transport the cocaine and to send cash back to Forbes and Marcia Cunningham, 51, of Plantation, Fla., the indictment said.

An eight-count indictment returned on May 8, names Forbes and Cunningham, along with Timothy Bonner, 38, Garfield Campbell, 44, Garfield Campbell Jr., 22, Robert Forbes, 44, and Anthony Portis Jr., 36, all of Pittsburgh, as defendants.

Cunningham and Hector Forbes were arrested May 10 in Florida. The remaining defendants were arrested Monday in Lawrence and Allegheny counties. Garfield Campbell and Garfield Campbell Jr. are father and son. Hector Forbes and Robert Forbes are brothers.

A second indictment containing 24 counts names Fawn Cox, 40, Wesley Cox, 37, Michael Cox, 48, Dondi Searcy Jr., 34, Quantel Searcy, 45, Christopher Shaner, 24, and Ronny Daniels Jr., 36, all of New Castle; Sergio Murillo, 45, of Detroit, Mich.; and Eva Scialabba, 32, of Beaver Falls. All of the defendants were arrested Monday except for Wesley Cox and Murillo who were already in custody. Fawn Cox, Wesley Cox and Michael Cox are siblings. Dondi Searcy Jr. and Quantel Searcy are cousins.

According to the indictments, Hector Forbes ran a cocaine trafficking ring since April 2017, and the remaining defendants conspired to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

A third indictment charges Rondell Palmer, 47, of Pontiac, Mich., with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Marnie Sheehan-Balchon are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

According to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Scott Brady, federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation leading to the indictments. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. In this case, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit, the New Castle Police Department and the Union Township Police Department provided significant assistance in the investigation.

The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.