Drug suspect released by Judge Orenstein back in Allegheny County

A New York resident arrested last September after being caught with a large amount of suspected fentanyl and cocaine has been returned to Allegheny County after he failed to appear a bail modification hearing.

28-year-old Yan Carols Pichardo Cepeda was released on non-monetary bond by District Magistrate Judge Xander Orenstein after he was arrested at the Downtown Pittsburgh Greyhound station

The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office expressed concern over Orenstein’s decision to release Cepeda, “despite having no local ties and despite a recommendation of no release from Allegheny County Pre-Trial Services.”

Sheriff Kevin Kraus’ office says detectives traveled to New York on three different occasions in an attempt to locate Cepeda.

Detectives searched areas in New York City, New York state and Connecticut.

Cepeda was arrested after a traffic stop in the Bronx in early February.

The sheriff says the cost of trying to re-apprehend Cepeda is over $30,000.

Cepeda was is currently in Allegheny County Jail awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Drug charges will be handled by the PA Attorney General’s Office.

The suspected fentanyl in the case ended up being a cutting agent used in drugs, but did have around a kilo of cocaine on his person.

Judge Orenstein was pulled from arraignment hearings late last month.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala and Sheriff Kraus have expressed their frustrations with Orenstein in the past.