Pennsylvania

40 Charged in Chester Drug Gang Sweep

Authorities charged dozens of people after an investigation revealed members of a violent drug trafficking group stashed cocaine, crack, heroin and even guns on playgrounds, mailboxes and windowsills throughout Chester.

U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger announced the charges Friday, citing a 261-count superseding indictment that charged 22 of the 40 defendants with operating a drug market within the Rose and Upland neighborhoods in Chester.

"The people who live in the city of Chester, particularly in the area surrounding Rose and Upland Streets, deserve a break," Memeger said. "They deserve better. And we will keep going back there until we release the choke hold these drug organizations have on that community."

The group distributing drugs and guns are known as the Rose and Upland Drug Trafficking Group, according to investigators, who said  William Dorsey allegedly ran the operation.

Dorsey sold multiple kilograms of cocaine -- often in the form of crack -- to other members of the gang, according to investigators.

Gang members then hid those drugs in multiple stash locations, like playgrounds, mailboxes, windowsills, abandoned houses, alleys, trash cans and other spots throughout the Chester neighborhood, authorities said.

Police recovered 15 firearms during the investigation -- and some of those guns were hid in those same stash locations, they said.

Many of the gang members routinely carried the loaded weapons to protect their "territory," according to investigators.

Along with Dorsey, the sweep also led to the arrest of one of the gang's largest drug suppliers, Paris Church, authorities said.

To see the full list of suspects charged, visit the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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