Pittsburgh, PA – Thirteen individuals have been charged in two separate federal indictments for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. The case, announced today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, involves 12 residents of Western Pennsylvania and one individual from Indiana. The alleged drug conspiracies stretch across several years, spanning from January 2019 to July 2024.
In the first indictment, a 22-count case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office accuses Martin J. Maassen, an 82-year-old physician from Lafayette, Indiana, of unlawfully distributing Adderall and oxycodone. Specifically, Maassen faces 21 counts of unlawful distribution of Adderall, an amphetamine commonly used to treat ADHD. Along with Maassen, several others from Pennsylvania are implicated in the conspiracy.
The second indictment, a single-count case, charges 12 individuals in connection with oxycodone distribution, including William J. Kelley, Jeffery A. Yates, Rhodney Yates, and Nick Bombiani, among others. These individuals allegedly played key roles in the network that distributed the painkiller throughout the region.
The DEA’s Philadelphia Field Division Special Agent in Charge, Thomas Hodnett, commented, “Dr. Maassen stands accused of unlawfully distributing powerful painkillers such as oxycodone and amphetamines such as Adderall. Doctors like Maassen have a legal and moral obligation to prescribe these drugs only for legitimate medical purposes and within the usual course of professional practice; Maassen allegedly did neither.”
The DEA and other local law enforcement agencies conducted the investigation, which ultimately uncovered a widespread network involving illegally prescribed prescriptions for oxycodone and other controlled substances. Authorities assert that many of those involved in the conspiracy played a role in distributing these drugs to the community, putting lives at risk.
The full list of those charged in Indictment 1 includes:
- Martin J. Maassen, 82, Lafayette, Indiana
- William J. Kelley, 64, West Mifflin, PA
- Jeffery A. Yates, 51, Pittsburgh, PA
- Rhodney Yates, 55, Tarrs, PA
- Nick Bombiani, 34, Pittsburgh, PA
- Kahla Sweeney, 31, Pittsburgh, PA
- Leonard Hoffman, 78, Braddock, PA
The individuals charged in Indictment 2 are:
- Jon L. Brinson, 44, Duquesne, PA
- Gerald B. Ragin Jr., 59, Duquesne, PA
- Lashawn Hardy, 51, Pittsburgh, PA
- Kimberly Scabora, 56, West Mifflin, PA
- Emerson L. McClelland Jr., 68, Pittsburgh, PA
- Phillip Reich, 60, Duquesne, PA
As with all indictments, it is important to note that these charges are accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case is part of a broader effort by federal authorities to combat the opioid crisis and prevent the illegal distribution of prescription drugs. If convicted, the accused could face significant prison sentences and financial penalties.
