Philly's AR-Ab Hit With Federal Drug Charges

AR-Ab is among nine individuals indicted on federal drug-related charges.

The charges were revealed in a Department of Justice news release Thursday, citing U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain's announcement of an unsealed superseding indictment of AR-Ab (real name Abdul West) and eight others. West is alleged in the superseding indictment to be the leader of a drug trafficking organization in Philadelphia.

"The charges alleged in the superseding indictment are extremely serious, and if convicted, these defendants are facing major jail time," McSwain said. "The investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking organizations remains a high priority of this Office and the Department of Justice. We are committed to doing everything we can to keep our streets safe and stop the flow of these deadly drugs into our communities."

Charges include allegations that West and the other defendants operated a "trafficking network" between March 2017 and June 2018. A search of a property owned by West in September 2017 resulted in the discovery of crack, heroin, methamphetamine, a handgun, and an estimated $8,000 in cash. A search of a different property, this one done by the FBI, produced additional cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as an additional $20,000 in cash.

Thursday's superseding indictment includes charges of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of crack, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 100 grams or more of heroin. Additional individual charges include possession with intent to distribute, meth distribution, and unlawful firearm possession.

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