Fentanyl trafficking suspect skips court appearance in $1.6M case

A man who was released on nonmonetary bond after being caught with $1.6 million worth of fentanyl in Pittsburgh failed to appear for a court hearing. The suspect, Yan Carlos Pichardo Cepeda, did not respond to phone calls from pretrial services and a nationwide arrest warrant has been issued. Cepeda was arrested outside a Greyhound station with 9 kilograms of fentanyl, and a subsequent search revealed a kilo of cocaine. Despite recommendations against his release, a judge granted Cepeda a nonmonetary bond. The judge's decision has been criticized, especially considering Cepeda's criminal record and pending cases in New York.