Nearly 600 fentanyl stamp bags, 7 weapons seized in search of New Kensington home

Authorities say they seized nearly 600 stamp bags of fentanyl and seven firearms while carrying out a search warrant early Monday at a home on Leishman Avenue in New Kensington.

Robert Micha Whitley, 26, and Destyni Monae Compton, 24, each face several charges for drugs and weapons offenses.

Agents from the state Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, along with the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force and New Kensington police, carried out a search warrant around 6 a.m. at Whitley’s residence, according to a criminal complaint.

After knocking and announcing at the door, agents reported seeing Whitley jump up from a couch and move toward the stairs. Officers breached the front door as Whitley tried to flee up the stairs, the complaint states.

As Whitley was pulled off the stairs and arrested, agents reported seeing bundles of fentanyl on the couch where he had been laying.

Compton was found in the second-floor bedroom. She was arrested on an active warrant out of Allegheny County.

A search of the residence found 586 stamp bags of fentanyl in a kitchen cabinet, marked “Tweety Bird” in green and “Mario Brothers” in red, according to the complaint. Bundles of fentanyl were found on the living room couch and on Whitley; authorities did not specify how many stamp bags those were.

Weapons found consisted of an AK-47 rifle; three .40-caliber Glock pistols, one of which was loaded; a loaded 9 mm Glock; a loaded AR-15 rifle; and a loaded AR-15 pistol reported stolen from Munhall.

Munhall assistant police Chief Jamie Caterino confirmed that the AR-15 pistol had been stolen from his borough, but was not able to provide any other information, citing a pending investigation.

Authorities said they also seized more than $8,600 in cash. Included in that was about $6,000 found in a bedroom dresser that contained funds used by the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations.

Whitley’s criminal history includes drug convictions in 2017 and 2016, and an aggravated assault conviction in 2014, making him not legally allowed to possess firearms.

Whitley and Compton were arraigned before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr., who set Whitley’s bail at $200,000 and Compton’s bail at $100,000.

They did not have attorneys listed in court records.

Whitley and Compton are scheduled for preliminary hearings before Pallone on Dec. 5.