Area man charged after raid reaps massive amounts of drugs, guns, cash

By MICHAEL DIVITTORIO
TribLive
A young child is being helped by social services after a Clairton man was arrested on drug crimes and firearms violations following a raid at his home earlier this month, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday.

Ismail A. Hamlin, 28, was denied bail and remains lodged in the Allegheny County Jail, according to online court documents.

He is charged with five counts of persons not to possess firearms, three counts of possession of controlled substances, three counts of posses sion with intent to deliver controlled substances, two counts of altering or obliterating marks of identification of firearms and one count of tampering with physical evidence.

State narcotics investigators, along with the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Narcotics Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at Hamlin’s home Friday, according to a report from state Attorney General David W. Sunday Jr.’s Office.

They found hundreds of bricks of fentanyl, cash, multiple firearms including what they said was a “ghost gun” and an illegal Glock switch.

Ghost guns are unregulated, untraceable firearms that do not have serial numbers. A Glock switch enables a semi-automatic handgun to be fully automatic.

Officers seized 478 “bricks” of fentanyl, nearly 24,000 doses stamped for street sales; more than 3 ounces of crack cocaine; three assault rifles, including the ghost gun; two Taurus handguns, including one with an obliterated serial number; the Glock switch; a large amount of ammunition and nearly $20,000 in cash.

Social services is assisting a young child that was found inside the home.

Authorities said Hamlin has prior drug-trafficking and firearms possession convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms.

Hamlin