Suspects confessed to drug trafficking case | News, Sports, Vacancies

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

Douglas Hillegass, 62, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of drug trafficking related to a six-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in the region, the Justice Department said in a press release.

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

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

Also named in the 16-count indictment are Altoona residents Jason Lynn, 37; Tonya Settlemyer, 38; and Andrew Stowell, 65; Scott Dogenbaugh, 41, of Tyrone; Curtis Dively, 38, of Claysburg; Joshua Pote, 41, of Roaring Spring; Brian Weakland, 65, of Coalport; Daniel Nepa, 48, from Gallitzin; Leslie Wilt, 37, of Glen Ritchie; and Juan Duran, 34, of Brooklyn, New York.

According to the indictment, the 13 individuals included leaders, members, drug suppliers and associates of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of narcotics throughout western Pennsylvania.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to possess more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and large quantities of cocaine and heroin beginning in September 2022 and continuing through September 2023. The indictment alleges separate drug trafficking violations against Stowell, Pote, Lynn and Nepa, and firearms violations against Lynn. Finally, the indictment also alleges that Duran laundered the proceeds of drug trafficking.

As part of the guilty plea, the court was told Hillegass was a methamphetamine distributor who received approximately 6 ounces of methamphetamine from Lynn, a major drug distributor. Hillegass then distributed the methamphetamine to others.

His sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2025.

Arce and Paz were couriers who transported drugs from the New York area to Altoona on behalf of Duran, a major drug supplier, the press release said.

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

Both Arce and Paz also transported large amounts of money from Lynn to Durant that represented payment for methamphetamine.

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

The remaining 10 defendants in the case are awaiting trial, according to online court documents.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration led a multi-agency investigation into the matter, which also included the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Police Bureau and Pennsylvania State Police.