Men from Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and West Mifflin have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of kidnapping, carjacking, robbery, and breaking federal gun and postal laws, among others.
The 14-count indictment names as defendants Armoni Burton, 25, of Greensburg; Ausaun Porter, 22, of Pittsburgh; and Lawrence Strothers Jr., 21, of West Mifflin.
Burton was arrested by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday, while the other defendants are currently detained on state charges.
According to the indictment, the defendants committed a series of crimes in late-December and January.
In early January, Burton and Porter allegedly carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in White Oak.
Prosecutors say they kidnapped its occupant, struck them several times, bound their wrists and ankles, threatened them and stole marijuana from them.
The indictment goes on to say they used the victim’s cellphone to place at least one call to demand ransom for the victim’s release before they attempted to put the bound victim in a dumpster in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood.
As a result, Burton and Porter are charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, carjacking, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, firing a gun while committing a violent crime, and possessing a gun to further drug trafficking.
Other alleged incidents
Burton is also charged in connection with two other incidents. One involved the robbery of a postal delivery person on Dec. 31.
The other involved his alleged possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute it, possession of stolen mail, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana on Jan. 21.
Stemming from that same date, Porter is charged with being a felon possessing a gun and conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Strothers is charged with being a felon possessing a gun.
The indictments were announced by United States Attorney Troy Rivetti on Thursday.
Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and V. Joseph Sonson are prosecuting the case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Pittsburgh police investigated.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.