Drug, weapons possession indictments filed in federal court against 2 Westmoreland men

Two Westmoreland County men with long criminal histories are facing separate indictments in Pittsburgh federal court.

Duran Foster, 29, of Jeannette, was indicted Tuesday on two counts of drug possession and single counts each of possessing a firearm and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. A grand jury found that he had crack cocaine, a pistol and ammunition at a Patton Avenue home in Jeannette in October.

Foster has had at least seven previous felony convictions dating to 2016, according to court filings. His criminal history in Westmoreland County dates to 2014 with several of those cases involving drug possession, according to court records.

An unrelated indictment also was filed Tuesday against Akeem Vance, 39, of Jeannette and Greensburg. He is charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

A grand jury found that Vance, who has at least seven previous felony convictions, was in possession of ammunition in August. Court filings did not say where that offense happened but it is the same date he is accused of assaulting two Westmoreland County probation officers at his apartment in Greensburg. The officers were trying to take him into custody for a probation violation, according to court papers.

He is awaiting trial in that case. His criminal history in the county dates to 2003 and involves several instances of drug possession, according to court records.

Prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of the gun and ammunition in the two cases. Warrants for the arrest of both men have been issued. They are both being held at the Westmoreland County Prison.