Detroit man pleas guilty to drug trafficking operation in Beaver County

PITTSBURGH ― A Michigan man has pleaded guilty to his involvement in drug trafficking that was moving illegal substances across Beaver County.

According to the Department of Justice, the guilty plea for drug trafficking charges was entered by 33-year-old Andre Brent Steel on Friday. In a public release, the court said this plea comes with a nine-year sentence in federal prison and four years of supervised release.

In their investigation, police found Steel was connected to a Detroit-based drug trafficking organization that had begun to distribute its products in Beaver County. After making several controlled purchases from the dealer, police said customers would call a cell phone to purchase drugs. The dealer would then direct these buyers to one of several drug runners who had apartments in Ambridge and New Brighton.

When police moved to end the ring, they seized 130 grams of acetyl fentanyl, 330 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture and 200 grams of cocaine base, commonly known as crack. When he was arrested, Steel had the phone used to manage the drug deals, police said.