Indictment Takes Aim At Alleged Pittsburgh Street Gang

PITTSBURGH, PA — Members and associates of the notorious Zhoove street gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury on narcotics and firearms charges.

According to the indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh on Friday, the Zhoove street gang operated in and around the Allentown, Beltzhoover, Knoxville, and Mt. Washington neighborhoods. The defendants allegedly distributed cocaine and fentanyl.

Charges were brought against Cody Duncan, 33, of Verona; Ronell Cathie, 30, of Pittsburgh; Melvin Gaines, 29, of Oakmont; Curtis Williams, 27, of Pittsburgh; Malik Martinez, 27, of Pittsburgh; Cayce Williams, 22, of Pittsburgh; Devaughn Faulk, 27, of Pittsburgh; and Antonio Arrington, 22.

Weapons charges also were brought against Arrington and Curtis Williams. Both allegedly possessing a 9mmeach possessed a 9mm handgun and ammunition after previously being convicted of felonies, a violation of federal law.

Weapons charges also were brought against three related defendants: Morisee Williams, 41; Syere Franklin, 24; and Charles Stephens, 60; all of Pittsburgh. Each were charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Oneal Olive, 31, of Pittsburgh, was arrested during the execution of search warrants in the investigation and charged by criminal complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The weapons defendants allegedly possessed a variety of firearms, including, as to Williams, an AR-style semiautomatic rifle, and, as to Stephens, a Polymer-80 privately made firearm or “ghost gun.”

The drug-trafficking conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. The felon-in-possession charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.