Drug ringleaders admit to moving 300 pounds of cocaine from L.A. to Penn Hills

A Georgia man admitted Friday to running a cross-country drug ring that moved as much as 300 pounds of cocaine from Los Angeles to Penn Hills in either an RV or a Mercedes-Benz van emblazoned with a promotional photo of “Sno Cold,” his rapper wife, officials said.

Don Juan Mendoza, 42, formerly of Lawrenceville, Ga., pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to drug, conspiracy and gun charges in connection to what U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady described as one of Western Pennsylvania’s largest drug busts ever.

Co-ringleader Pedro Blanco, 38, of Jacksonville, Fla., pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Both Mendoza and Blanco accepted responsibility for coordinating the acquisition, cross-country movement and sales of between 50 and 150 kilograms of cocaine — 110 to 330 pounds, Brady said.

Officials estimated the street value of drugs they confiscated at more than $2 million.

Each man faces a sentence of at least 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10 million, per federal guidelines, Brady said.

The two men were among 39 people indicted in April 2018 in connection to the far-reaching operation that flooded “almost every region of Pennsylvania” with street drugs using a distribution and packaging hub concealed inside a Penn Hills house.

Those charged and convicted include a Penn Hills drug guard, a Washington County ex-kindergarten teacher and an inmate who plotted with conspirators while detained in federal prison.

Caught in cocaine-filled RV headed to Penn Hills

Prosecutors have said they believed the far-reaching ring had ties to Mexican cartels.

The two-year investigation to take it down, called Operation Heavy Hand, involved the FBI, state police and police from South Strabane, Elizabeth, Penn Hills and Perryopolis.

Their work came to a head in November 2017 when officials caught in an RV attempting to haul more than 52 kilograms — or 110 pounds — of cocaine and heroin from California to Jamie Lightfoot Jr.’s home in Penn Hills, the indictment said.

Police also seized a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of heroin, 85 pounds of marijuana, an AK-47 rifle and a handgun.

Two weeks later, the FBI served a search warrant on Mendoza’s Georgia home and found a hydraulic kilogram press, various drug paraphernalia and packaging materials and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.

Later searches of the homes and vehicles of others involved in the ring turned up more drugs, 11 firearms and more than $1 million in cash.

Mendoza agreed to forfeit everything seized as part of his plea deal, Brady said.

Lightfoot Jr. was charged as one of the Pennsylvania ringleaders along with his brother, Deaubre Lightfoot, of Monessen. Both Lightfoot brothers have entered guilty pleas. Their father, Jamie Lightfoot Sr., was accused of participating in the ring while he was in federal prison.

In court on Friday, both Mendoza and Blanco admitted that they personally sourced large amounts of cocaine as well as marijuana from out-of-state sources, including Los Angeles, Brady said.

Mendoza and Blanco told the court they would make arrangements for the drugs to be driven to Penn Hills. Sometimes, Blanco, himself, would travel in the van or RV used to haul the drugs, Brady said.

Both men will remain in custody until their sentencing hearings, Brady said.

Assistant U.S. attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and Shaun Sweeney prosecuted the cases.

U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak scheduled Blanco’s sentencing for June 16. Mendoza is set to be sentenced the next day.

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