The U.S. Attorney’s Office has unsealed a federal indictment naming 16 people from Pittsburgh in a crack and cocaine distribution conspiracy that prosecutors say ran from November 2025 through July 2026. The charges, announced this week, lay out a scheme prosecutors allege involved quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine and expose defendants to substantial mandatory minimum sentences and fines.
Allegations and potential penalties
At the center of the indictment is a lead defendant who prosecutors say was responsible for a significantly larger volume of drugs than the rest of the group. According to the charging documents, the lead defendant is connected to at least 280 grams of crack cocaine. Federal law would subject that defendant to a statutory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10 million, or both, if convicted.
The remaining 15 defendants are accused of conspiring to distribute crack or cocaine in quantities that the indictment ties to approximately 28 grams or more of crack for each named individual. For those defendants, prosecutors say the applicable penalties include a minimum of 5 years in prison and fines up to $5 million, or both.
Who is charged
The indictment lists names and the quantities attributed to each defendant. The public charging information identifies the following people and alleged quantities:
- DeConta Harrison, 48 — alleged connection to at least 280 grams of crack and an unspecified quantity of cocaine
- Jozef Bozeman, 47 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack
- Charles Brannon, 54 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack and a quantity of cocaine
- Rashaan Campbell, 45 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack
- Bobby Chatman, 65 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack and a quantity of cocaine
- Harold Jones Sr., 65 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack
- William Jones, 45 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack and a quantity of cocaine
- Alonzo Kidd, 50 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack and a quantity of cocaine
- Greg Nash, 65 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack
- Jeff O’Keefe, 35 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack and a quantity of cocaine
- Keith Payne, 50 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack
- Brandon Rodgers, 41 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack
- John Malcolm Smith, 44 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack and a quantity of cocaine
- Tyisha Somerville, 32 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack and a quantity of cocaine
- Kyrie Weston, 39 — alleged 28 grams or more of crack
| Defendant | Alleged quantity |
|---|---|
| DeConta Harrison, 48 | 280+ grams crack; additional cocaine |
| Other 15 defendants | Each alleged 28+ grams crack; some also tied to cocaine |
Local implications
Drug trafficking prosecutions at the federal level often reflect a longer investigation that can include wiretaps, controlled buys and cooperation with local law enforcement. While the indictment lists the alleged quantities and the defendants’ names, it does not resolve guilt; those accused will have the opportunity to answer the charges in federal court, where prosecutors must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Convictions in cases alleging distribution of crack and powder cocaine carry penalties intended to reflect the quantity involved and each defendant’s role. The differences between the quantities attributed to the lead defendant and those attributed to the others mark a dividing line in how the government calculates mandatory minimums and potential fines.
For neighborhoods across the city, an indictment of this size can be both a sign of law enforcement focus on narcotics and a reminder of ongoing community challenges. Residents and community leaders often react to such announcements with calls for both enforcement and expanded treatment and prevention resources; federal prosecutions do not, on their own, address broader social and public-health dimensions of addiction and drug markets.
As the case proceeds, court filings, detention hearings and any trial dates will be matters for the federal court docket. The indictment represents the formal step by prosecutors to bring these allegations into the judicial process; how the case unfolds will depend on motions, discovery, plea negotiations and, if the case goes to trial, jury proceedings.
Reporting will continue as federal court records and officials provide more details and as proceedings move forward for the 16 Pittsburgh residents named in the indictment.
