Weapons and drug charges against a former member of the Pagans motorcycle gang have been dismissed.
The charges, including prohibited possession of a firearm, against Bill Robert Rana, 44, of Sharpsburg were dismissed after a preliminary hearing Thursday before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.
Rana and three others where charged in October after state, county and local police investigated what they said was a drug dealing ring at Valley Royal Court in New Kensington.
Cases against the others charged — Marc D. Farabaugh, 42, Stephanie Lynn Miller, 41, and Ciera Siegworth, 25 — are not affected by the dismissal of Rana’s charges and are still proceeding, Westmoreland County district attorney’s spokeswoman Melanie Jones said.
The charges against Rana were dismissed because of a lack of evidence, according to Jones.
However, pending DNA results, she said the state could possibly refile them.
Rana’s attorney, Ashley Marie Cagle, did not comment on the possibility of the charges being refiled.
She noted that the burden of proof for a case to proceed past a preliminary hearing is very low.
“That should go to show, the fact that this case was dismissed at this level, is demonstrative of the lack of any evidence or tie of Mr. Rana to any of the charges,” she said.
The investigation had targeted Rana, who was staying in an apartment at Valley Royal Court.
There, authorities said they found quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth, heroin, psilocybin mushrooms and anabolic steroids, along with packaging materials and scales. Four guns were found, as was Pagans motorcycle gang apparel.
Rana was sergeant of arms for the Pagans Pittsburgh chapter when he was charged in December 2020 as part of a long-term investigation by the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force led by the FBI. Investigators said Rana sold cocaine and methamphetamine, leading to him and eight others being charged.
Rana is on federal parole.
Cagle said Rana is no longer involved with the Pagans, calling that part of his past.
“He’s looking forward to getting back to his life,” Cagle said.
Cases against Farabaugh and Miller have advanced to Westmoreland County Court, where Miller is scheduled for formal arraignment March 12. Farabaugh has a pre-trial conference scheduled for March 31, according to court records.
Siegworth, who had been released on unsecured bond, did not appear for a preliminary hearing before Pallone on Oct. 30. Her bond was revoked and a warrant was issued for her arrest, according to court records.