2 men arrested, 2 more sought in suspected drug, firearms trafficking ring

Four men are accused in what the state Attorney General’s Office described as a drug and firearms trafficking ring in Westmoreland County.

Two of the suspects — Shelton Andrew Payne, 34, of Monongahela, and David Darryle Jeffries, 34, of Monessen — were arrested Thursday.

Warrants were issued for two other suspects — James Steven Womack, 33, of Monessen, and Andre Damar Ellis-Barnes, 41, of Wilkinsburg.

A search warrant was served Thursday at a home on South 14th Street in Monessen by state agents, Westmoreland County SWAT, Westmoreland County Drug Task Force and officers from North Huntingdon and Monessen, according to court papers.

The search came after an undercover officer worked with the suspects to buy drugs over several months in Monessen, authorities said.

The suspects were conspiring together to sell guns and heroin/fentanyl, according to state officials. More than 47,000 doses of heroin/fentanyl and several guns were seized during the investigation, authorities said.

All four suspects are charged with conspiracy and corrupt organizations. Ellis-Barnes and Womack additionally are charged with dealing in proceeds of an unlawful act.

Payne is charged with firearms offenses. He was denied bail.

Jeffries and Womack are facing gun and drug violations. Jeffries’ bail was set at $500,000.

Ellis-Barnes is accused of drug offenses.

None of the suspects had attorneys listed in online court records. Preliminary hearings for Payne and Jeffries are set for Friday, Aug. 8.