Cocaine, guns, cash seized in 10-suspect roundup; 5 face felony child endangerment charge

Police say nearly two ounces of cocaine — along with handguns, digital scales and about $20,000 in cash — were confiscated during a raid at a New Kensington home Friday that netted some of the 10 people charged with felonies as part of a drug sweep.

In addition to multiple felony drug charges, five of the people arrested face a felony charge of endangering the welfare of children after police said they found a juvenile in a house they entered in the 600 block of Fourth Avenue, according to the criminal complaint filed on the case.

The 10 people were charged in connection with a joint operation involving police from New Kensington, Arnold and Harrison, who worked with state and county drug agents on the investigation. The arrests were announced on Friday by Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli.

Agents also seized suboxone packets, an electronic money counter and a number of cellphones they believe were used for drug transactions, police said.

The people charged in connection with Fourth Avenue raid are: Kiara Lashae Williams, 23, who lives in the home that was raided; Zywon Johnson, 36, of McKeesport; Raijon Daqae Wilson, 26, of Arnold; Rosella Williams, 53, of New Kensington; and Willis Elbert Bentz, 51, of New Kensington.

In addition to the child endangerment charge, the five each face two felony counts of drug possession and two misdemeanor drug possession charges.

Johnson also was charged with two felony counts of carrying a firearm without a license, the complaint said. Investigators said Johnson can’t have a gun because he was wanted on an arrest warrant from Westmoreland County for a previous arrest for carrying an illegal weapon.

Wilson faces two charges of carrying an illegal firearm because he was convicted on a felony drug charge in 2019, police said.

Kiara Williams was being detained in the Westmoreland County jail after failing to post a $50,000 cash bond, according to court records.

Johnson and Wilson were being detained in the jail after each of them failed to post a $75,000 cash bond.

The Friday, Feb. 11 drug sweep also resulted in the arrest of Devon Koch, 29, of Anderson Street, New Kensington.

Koch was charged in connection with a Dec. 28 traffic stop along Woodmont Avenue for driving with a suspended license, according to the complaint.

When police searched Koch they say they found a bag with 15 grams of cocaine in his sweatshirt pocket along with $1,920 in cash. He was being detained in the Westmoreland County jail after failing to post a $40,000 cash bond, according to court records.

Preliminary hearings before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. are schedule for Feb. 24 for Wilson, Koch, Kiara Williams and Zywon Johnson.

Preliminary hearings have not yet been scheduled for Bentz and Rosella Williams, according to court records.

Police also issued arrest warrants for three other people who were being sought as part of the county and local police investigations.

Kashawn Goldsmith, 26, of Natrona Heights, was charged on Nov. 9 by Harrison police with six felony and three misdemeanor drug charges, according to police.

Isiah Dean Williams, 36, of Arnold faces three felony drug counts in connection to charges filed last June 24. His preliminary hearing before Pallone also is Feb. 24. He was being held on a $40,000 cash bond.

Arrest warrants also were issued for Carlos Andres Cordoba and Randy Cartwright police said.

Cordoba, 24, of New Kensington was charged Feb. 10 by Arnold police with two felony drug charges along with driving without a license and possession of a controlled substance. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 3.

Arnold police also charged Cartwright, 35, of New Kensington, with two felony drug counts along with two counts of misdemeanor drug possession and driving without a license.