Crime & Safety

Baldwin Man Charged in Cocaine and Laundering Conspiracy

The 10-year-long conspiracy violated federal laws.

Twenty people from three states have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and money laundering laws, according to U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton.

The four-count indictment, returned on March 28, named Dennis Haenze, 56, of 1492 Cathell Road in , as one of the 20 defendants.

According to the indictment, the defendants, who hail from Pennsylvania, Maryland and California, are charged with participating in a 10-year-long conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder monetary instruments.

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The law provides for a sentence of 10 years up to life imprisonment, a fine of $4 million or both. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross E. Lenhardt and Gregory J. Nescott are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Criminal Investigation unit of the Internal Revenue Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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