Trio pleads guilty in drug case | News, sports, jobs

A Duncansville man was one of three men who recently pleaded guilty to charges in a drug trafficking ring in and around Blair, Cambria, Center and Clearfield counties.

Douglas Hillegass, 62, has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of drug trafficking in connection with a six-month wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in the area, according to a Department of Justice news release.

Also before U.S. District Judge Stephanie L. Haines, Miguel Arce, 40, of Brooklyn, NY, and Timothy Paz, 32, of Queens, NY, each pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking.

The three men were among 13 people indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh late last year on charges of drug trafficking, firearms violations and money laundering.

Others named in the 16-count indictment include Altoona residents Jason Lynn, 37; Tonya Settlemyer, 38; and Andrew Stowwell, 65; Scott Daughenbaugh, 41, of Tyrone; Kurtis Dively, 38, of Claysburg; Joshua Pote, 41, of Roaring Spring; Brian Weakland, 65, of Coalport; Danielle Nepa, 48, of Gallitzin; Lesley Wilt, 37, of Glen Richey; and Juan Duran, 34, of Brooklyn, NY

According to the indictment, the thirteen individuals include leaders, members, drug suppliers and associates of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of narcotics in western Pennsylvania.

According to the indictment, from September 2022 through September 2023, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to possess more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and quantities of cocaine and heroin with the intention to distribute it. The charges allege individual drug trafficking violations against Stowell, Pote, Lynn and Nepa, as well as a firearms violation against Lynn. Finally, the indictment further alleges that Duran laundered the monetary proceeds from the illegal drug trade.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was told that Hillegass was a methamphetamine distributor who obtained approximately 180 grams of meth from Lynn, a large-scale narcotics distributor. Hillegass then redistributed the meth to others.

His sentencing is set for February 26, 2025.

Arce and Paz were both couriers who transported narcotics from the New York City area to Altoona on behalf of Duran, a large-scale narcotics supplier, the news release said.

In total, Arce transported more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine and Paz transported approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine.

Both Arce and Paz also transported large amounts of money from Lynn to Duran, which represented payment for the methamphetamine.

Paz’s sentencing is set for January 9, 2025, while Arce’s sentencing is set for February 11, 2025.

The remaining 10 suspects in the case are awaiting trial, according to online court records.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the US Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, US Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Pennsylvania State Police were involved.