Braddock gang leader, 2 others plead guilty to leading massive drug trafficking ring

A Pittsburgh area gang leader and his two associates have pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking related charges this week.

Howard McFadden, 30, of Turtle Creek, Donald Singleton, 48, of Penn Hills and Chadlin Leavy, 31, of Pittsburgh admitted to multiple counts related to their involvement in conspiracies to distribute controlled substances in Southwestern Pennsylvania, federal authorities announced Thursday.

The Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force conducted a long-term investigation of drug trafficking occurring in and around Braddock.

Authorities said McFadden admitted as part of his plea that he conspired to distribute nearly 2.5 pounds of heroin, 5.6 pounds of cocaine and another fourth-fifths of a pound of crack cocaine.

The investigation identified several members and associates of a Braddock-based street gang, self-titled “SCO” that were responsible for distributing controlled substances in Western Pennsylvania, including SCO’s leader, McFadden.

Authorities said investigators used wiretaps from January 2019 through May. Intercepted communications confirmed McFadden’s involvement in drug-trafficking as well as other members, associates and/or suppliers of McFadden and SCO, including Singleton and Leavy.

Authorities said McFadden used younger gang members and associates as runners and couriers to handle drug transactions with his customers. He used a number of houses in Braddock, including ones he owned via his house-flipping business, H&M Home Solutions, as “stash houses.”

He and another member of the conspiracy were seen sitting in McFadden’s Jeep Grand Cherokee, parked on Seddon Avenue, placing a clear plastic bag containing suspected narcotics on a scale located on the center armrest of the vehicle, according to investigators.

Authorities said McFadden also admitted to illegally possessing a Glock 30, .45-caliber pistol. Police seized the gun, high-end jewelry and nearly $23,600 from his Jeep last June.

Singleton was one of McFadden’s close associates and regularly talked with him over the phone to discuss their drug trafficking, authorities said.

He admitted to providing McFadden with drug-trafficking advice and the names of people who could supply him with narcotics.

He also let McFadden use an apartment in the Wellington Square Apartments complex in Penn Hills to process cocaine into crack cocaine, authorities said.

A raid at the apartment last June netted numerous items related to drug-trafficking.

Singleton also admitted to conspiring to distribute 4.4 pounds of cocaine, and nearly 3 ounces each of crack and heroin.

Authorities said Leavy was a heroin, cocaine and marijuana supplier for McFadden, among others. Police stopped Leavy while he was en route to meet with his marijuana supplier to buy between 25 and 30 pounds of marijuana for $30,000.

Authorities seized a 2008 Mercedes Benz S550, close to $43,000 , four guns with ammunition and ammunition magazines for them, and high-end jewelry from Leavy’s residence last June.

Leavy admitted to conspiring to distribute 1.3 pounds of heroin, 3.3 pounds of cocaine and 53 kilograms — 117 pounds — of marijuana, according to investigators.

Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled Leavy’s sentencing for May 21, Singleton’s sentencing for July 15 and McFadden’s sentencing for July 28.

McFadden faces a sentence of between 15 years and life in prison, and a fine of up $20 million.

As for Leavy and Singleton, the law provides for a sentence of between five and 40 years in prison, and a fine up to $5 million.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The FBI led the investigation, which also included the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Allegheny County Police, state police, state Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics, Pittsburgh Police and Allegheny County Adult Probation.

Police from Monroeville, Penn Hills and Wilkinsburg also assisted.

Wellington Square Apartments is in Penn Hills. A previous version of this story stated the wrong municipality. The story has been corrected.