Port Vue man pleads guilty to federal drug charges

A Port Vue man charged with possession and conspiring to distribute heroin pleaded guilty to the federal drug charges.

Jarran Bell, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts before U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon.

Authorities said Bell and his girlfriend, Krystle Barretto, were living together during the investigation, which took place December 2014 through April 2015.

Bell and Barretto maintained numerous other residences, which were used as stash houses, according to investigators. Amanda Santiago lived in one of those residences during the investigative period.

In April 2015, Bell and Barretto orchestrated two large shipments of heroin from Patterson, N.J., back to the McKeesport/Port Vue area. On April 19, 2015, a courier, Amanda Santiago, transported approximately 500 bricks of heroin from Patterson back to McKeesport via taxi cab, authorities said.

Agents executed several search warrants and seized a loaded firearm, approximately five bricks of heroin and a money counter. All of the aforementioned items were seized from the master bedroom of Bell and Barretto. The loaded gun was located in a dresser drawer along with the five bricks of heroin. Barretto was the lawful owner of the firearm.

Santiago pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Barretto pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 19.