Pennsylvania

“Career drug dealer” from Pennsylvania whose fentanyl led to death of 5-year-old girl sentenced to prison

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2024

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“Career drug dealer” from Pennsylvania whose fentanyl led to death of 5-year-old girl sentenced to prison

Biden signs FEND off Fentanyl Act signed into law

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A “career drug dealer” from Western Pennsylvania whose fentanyl supply led to the death of a 5-year-old girl was sentenced to prison time in connection with the incident, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office said.

Albert Spicer, of Cambria County, will serve 13 to 30 years in prison for his latest drug-trafficking offense, which led to the death of 5-year-old Alaia Young in 2022. The attorney general’s office said in a news release that the 36-year-old man was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to deliver and other related charges.

Spicer had at least six previous drug-dealing convictions, the attorney general’s office said. Cambria County Judge Norman A. Krumenacker said Spicer is a “career drug dealer” who sold fentanyl, which is causing “death and destruction in communities everywhere.”

The 36-year-old Cambria County man was one of three people charged following Young’s death. Authorities said Spiecer supplied fentanyl/heroin to the girl’s mother. The 5-year-old girl ingested the drugs and fatally overdosed at home.

“This defendant is the stem that caused an unthinkable tragedy — the death of a purely innocent 5-year-old girl,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said in Wednesday’s news release. “His drug trafficking days have lasted long enough, and this sentence will ensure it will be many years before he can possibly pose another risk to society.”

Volaura Askew, Young’s mother, previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other related charges. She is currently in state prison.

Michael Guise

Michael Guise is a web producer for CBS Pittsburgh who has worked for KDKA-TV since 2019.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to threatening Trump and ICE agents online

Published

12 hours ago

April 14, 2026

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Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to threatening Trump and ICE agents online

Shawn Monper, 33, of Butler, Pennsylvania, entered the plea on Monday before U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy to two counts of threatening federal officials with intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with and retaliate against them in…

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania man charged after son brought loaded gun to school, DA says

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

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Pennsylvania man charged after son brought loaded gun to school, DA says

A Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, man was charged after his son went to school with his loaded gun, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.

The DA’s office said Russell Matthews, 58, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering the welfare of a child.

East Pikeland Township Police responded to Hares Hill Elementary School on Monday at around 12:15 p.m. for the report of a student who brought a handgun to school.

At school, the student noticed the handgun inside their backpack and told a school counselor, according to the DA’s office. The student told officials that he recognized it and that it belonged to his father. The semiautomatic handgun was loaded with five rounds of ammunition, the DA’s office said.

Matthews told police that he put the gun in the wrong backpack, the DA’s office said.

Nobody was injured during the incident.

“We are grateful to the school officials and the East Pikeland Township Police Department who worked quickly to ensure that [Hares] Hill Elementary School is safe again,” Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement.

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Pennsylvania

Cynthia Ann Gargasz, Sharon, PA

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

SHARON, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – Cynthia Ann Gargasz, age 75, passed away peacefully, on Friday, April 10, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Cynthia was born on October 5, 1950, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, to Mary and Carl Spruk.

Cindy grew up in Farrell, Pennsylvania, where she attended Farrell High School and graduated from class of 1969. She went on to dedicate 30 years of hard work at Packard Electric before retiring.

Cindy found joy in simple comforts at home and maintaining her home and family. Throughout her life, she cared deeply for her animal friends and would always feed and nurture any additional critters that would cross her path. She loved sitting with a cup of coffee, watching the birds and welcoming visits from friends and family. She cherished gathering around the kitchen table for meals and conversation and was always adding simple touches to her space to make it feel more like home. She enjoyed hosting holidays, where everyone felt welcome. Cindy had an eye for style, enjoyed meeting up with friends and dancing the night away to good music. Most recently during her illness, she very much enjoyed trips to the corral drive-in, for vanilla ice cream and burger visits with family.

Cindy is preceded in death by her parents Mary and Carl Spruk; her sister, Carol Crisan; and her brother, Edward Spruk.

She is survived by her children, Frank (Reagan) Gargasz and Ashley Gargasz; her grandson, Jordan DeCarmen; her brother, Mark Spruk (Gretchen); and her nieces and great-nieces.

Per her wish, family and close friends may call on Tuesday April 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., in the Stephen J. Sherman Funeral Home

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., in the funeral home, with Father James Power, officiating.

Burial will take place in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery Hermitage, PA.

Arrangements entrusted to the SHERMAN Funeral Home & Crematory.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cynthia Ann (Spruk) Gargasz, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Tuesday, April 14, at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

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