Robbers Drugged and then Robbed Multiple People Across Pennsylvania; New York and Virginia
A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Pennsylvania has charged seven individuals in a Superseding Indictment, according to the United States Attorney’s Office. The individuals facing charges are Amanda Marie Correa, Robert Andrew Barnes, Christine Deann DiCarlo, Shaqare Jaymont Blackwell, Shakur Serafin Brownstein, Dylan Wilson Small, and Samual Jordan, with ages ranging from 24 to 50.
The indictment lists several charges, including conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance resulting in death and serious bodily injury, distributing fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury, brandishing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, kidnapping, and aggravated identity theft.
United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam states that the indictment highlights the activities of a group of individuals known as the “Fentanyl Robbery Gang (F.R.G.)”. Some members of this group, who had connections to New York gangs, were involved in the trafficking of drugs and guns.
In addition, they utilized dating websites to establish connections with individuals seeking to hire prostitutes. Individuals affiliated with the F.R.G. would coordinate to meet the victim at their location with the intention of stealing firearms, cash, cell phones, IDs, debit and credit cards, drugs, and other valuable items.
The victim would be given drugs (typically claimed to be cocaine), without their knowledge that the drugs actually contained fentanyl. When the victim declined the drugs, individuals connected to the F.R.G. would forcefully or secretly introduce fentanyl-laced narcotics into the victim’s body.
The purpose of this act was to render victims unable to resist while the perpetrator stole firearms, cash, cell phones, IDs, debit and credit cards, drugs, and other valuable items. When a victim was not able to be incapacitated or if it took too long, the F.R.G. would opt for a different approach.
They would carry out home-invasion robberies, gaining entry through the help of other members and associates. Once inside, they would forcefully take valuable items using guns, threats, beatings, and aggravated assault.
According to the superseding indictment, four individuals tragically lost their lives due to overdosing on fentanyl. There were three fatalities reported in Berks and Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and one fatality in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
All seven individuals named in the superseding indictment are currently in custody. This investigation is currently in progress, with law enforcement working diligently to identify and apprehend more members and associates of F.R.G. They are also focused on identifying and locating the victims involved. If you have any information about F.R.G., please contact the FBI at 570-344-2404. They are seeking to hear from victims and anyone else who may have relevant information.
Fox56 reports that authorities are currently investigating over 50 additional potential crime scenes. More than 50 victims have been identified across several states, including Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.
The charges were brought about through a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, United States Marshals Service, District Attorney Offices, Portsmouth Police Department, and New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, as well as other state and local authorities. Todd K. Hinkley and Luisa Honora Berti, Assistant United States Attorneys, are handling the prosecution of the case.
