Brother of Western Pennsylvania cocaine ring kingpin sentenced to 12-plus years in prison

A Dormont man who authorities say was involved in one of the largest cocaine distribution rings in Western Pennsylvania has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.

Robert Forbes, 46, is the brother of Hector Forbes, who authorities identified as the kingpin in a 17-member drug ring that operated in four states from April 2017 through April 2019.

Authorities charged Robert Forbes with conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, money laundering and racketeering, officials said.

He pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy, which involved mailing shipments of cocaine from California to cities throughout the United States, including New Castle, officials said.

The conspiracy also involved the shipment of cash by mail from recipients of the cocaine to the suppliers. Many of the cocaine distributors were, like Forbes, originally from Jamaica, officials said.

Following his prison sentence, Forbes will have five years of supervised release, officials said.