Pagans member among 4 arrested in New Kensington drug bust, police say
BRIAN C. RITTMEYER Triblivr.com October 7, 2024
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/police-say-pagans-motorcycle-gang-member-among-4-arrested-in-new-kensington-drug-investigation/
Four people face charges after state, county and local police investigated what they say was a drug dealing ring in New Kensington involving a member of the Pagans motorcycle gang.
The investigation, involving state Attorney General agents, New Kensington police and the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force, on Friday targeted Bill Robert Rana, 44, who police say was staying in an apartment at Valley Royal Court on Fifth Avenue.
Rana is on federal parole for narcotics charges, police say in court paperwork. In addition to felony and misdemeanor drug offenses, he is charged with four felony counts of prohibited possession of firearms.
Rana was sergeant of arms for the Pagans Pittsburgh chapter when he was charged as part of a long-term investigation by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force led by the FBI. Investigators say Rana sold cocaine and methamphetamine, leading to him and eight others being charged in December 2020.
Rana’s girlfriend, Ciera Siegworth, 25, was arrested Friday when she was stopped driving a pickup registered to Rana, police said. She was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and she had an outstanding arrest warrant from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, police said.
Mark D. Farabaugh, 42, and Stephanie Lynn Miller, no age given, were found in the apartment and each charged with several felony and misdemeanor drug offenses.
Police list all of the suspects as being from New Kensington.
Inside the apartment, police said they found about nine ounces of cocaine with a street value of $15,790. Quantities of crack cocaine, crystal meth and heroin also consistent with possession with intent to deliver also were found, police said.
Yhey also found 15 grams of psilocybin mushrooms and 13 vials of anabolic steroids, according to court documents.
The search of the apartment also found four weapons, two 9 mm pistols, a .22-caliber firearm and a 12-gauge shotgun. One of the 9 mm guns had no serial number and is considered a “ghost gun,” police said in a criminal complaint.
Also found were packaging materials, scales, three cellphones, more than $2,700 in cash and Pagans motorcycle gang apparel, according to police.
Rana, Farabaugh and Miller were arraigned Saturday morning. Rana and Farabaugh were being held in the Westmoreland County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond each, while Miller’s bond was set at $50,000. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for Oct. 17
Siegworth was being held in the Allegheny County Jail.
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