Doc7505
Diamond Member
- Feb 16, 2016
- 15,718
- 27,675
- 2,430
Release of suspect in $1.6M drug case ignites political firestorm
in Allegheny County
Release of suspect in $1.6M drug case ignites political firestorm in Allegheny County
Allegheny County court officials are still trying to figure out how a man accused of carrying $1.6 million in fentanyl in Pittsburgh was released from custody this month, and now another judge is reportedly involved in the snafu. A nationwide arrest warrant was issued for Yan Carlos Pichardo...
triblive.com
Allegheny County court officials are still trying to figure out how a man accused of carrying $1.6 million in fentanyl in Pittsburgh was released from custody this month, and now another judge is reportedly involved in the snafu.
A nationwide arrest warrant was issued for Yan Carlos Pichardo Cepeda, 27, after he failed to appear for court. Pichardo Cepeda, of New York, is accused of carrying hundreds of thousands of fentanyl doses at a Pittsburgh bus station. He was given a nonmonetary bond by a district judge and released. He missed a second court date on Tuesday.
~Snip~
Local politicians are pointing fingers and accusing each other of malpractice. Republicans blame progressive policies such as cashless bail, while Democrats claim the district attorney is deflecting responsibility and not being proactive enough in Pichardo Cepeda’s case.
~Snip~
Politicians agree that Pichardo Cepeda should not have been released, but they disagree on who, and what, is to blame.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. claims Orenstein’s progressive politics influenced the decision to grant nonmonetary bond for the suspected drug dealer.
Zappala said Orenstein is politicizing the bond process, and it is leading to outcomes such as the Pichardo Cepeda release.
~Snip~
Unanswered questions remain: Why didn’t Ricciardi discuss the facts of Pichardo Cepeda’s case when he contacted Orenstein? Why didn’t Orenstein know they were not permitted to impose electronic monitoring as a bail condition? Why did neither judge send the case to Common Pleas Court to initiate the electronic monitoring condition?
Ricciardi, a former Pittsburgh city councilman, has served as a district judge in the 27th District, which covers the South Side, since 2008. He is not seeking reelection this year. His daughter, Nina Ricciardi, is the Democratic nominee for his seat.
~Snip~
While it appears Orenstein made a mistake, Harris said, the objective of a review should be forward-looking accountability so it doesn’t happen again.
Orenstein is a member of the left-wing Democratic Socialists of America and likely the first nonbinary judge elected in the United States. Orenstein ran on a platform of criminal justice reform, including being more compassionate in eviction cases and limiting the use of cash bail.
Commentary:
Why is anyone surprised? Does anyone think the flooding of fentanyl is occurring without political connections in our country?
Democrats trying to out do themselves in a court of law.....
Does anyone really believe the flood of fentanyl and other narcotics is occurring without political connections in our country?
It`s a wonder through this complete Democrat fiasco that Pichardo Cepeda didn't walk out of the court room with the Fentanyl cache he was caught and charged with.
Cepeda was acting as a mule for someone else in Mexico or NYC.
Nevertheless, there are some bad actors looking for him right now. They probably want to put a bullet in his skull. He doesn’t realize it, but the Allegheny county lock-up may be the safest place for him.
Last edited:
