Trending
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Youngstown man was convicted Friday of federal conspiracy and other charges dealing with a drug-trafficking operation in the Youngstown area.
Cedric L. Sanders, 42, appeared via video before U.S. Judge Donald C. Nugent of Northern Ohio District Court. Sanders pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl compounds and methamphetamines and one count of distributing heroin and fentanyl.
Nugent ordered a background investigation be compiled on Sanders before sentencing him on March 14. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.
State prison records show Sanders has been under post-release parole for a 2019 Mahoning County drug-related conviction. Sanders, who has been in custody since his late June arrest, is one of nine people charged last summer in a 57-count indictment dealing with a drug-trafficking operation in the Youngstown area.
Others named in the indictment are Korey K. Moody, 36; Matthew J. Spain, 28; Michael N. Childs Jr., 35; Dewayne A. McCullough, 35; Ghalayah L. LaBooth, 42; George V. Barnette, 37; and Lamar E. Knox, 31, all of Youngstown; and Lawrence K. McBride, 50, of Salem.
Moody, 36, with an Orlo Lane, Boardman address, pleaded guilty Nov. 5 to one charge of conspiracy with intent to possess and distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl.
Moody, the reputed ringleader of the gang, is set for Feb. 25, sentencing in federal court.
Court records show Spain, of Ridge Avenue, pleaded guilty Nov. 2 to the conspiracy count and also to a charge of distribution of heroin and fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 1. Records also show that Barnette pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to the conspiracy count and a charge of distributing cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl compounds and methamphetamine. Barnette is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 1.
According to the indictment, from February to December 2019, Moody is accused of supplying heroin and cocaine to Sanders, Spain, LaBooth and Childs for distribution in the Youngstown area. In turn, it is alleged that Spain and Childs supplied cocaine to McCullough, Barnette, Knox and McBride for redistribution in the areas around Youngstown. The defendants allegedly used cellphones and code words, such as "vick" "onion" and "zipper" to conduct and conceal their activities.
Moody also is accused of maintaining a drug house on Delason Avenue in Youngstown.
Childs, McCullough, LaBooth, McBride and Knox all will appear for a Dec. 17 pretrial hearing in federal court. In addition to the conspiracy charge, the remaining defendants are charged with various counts of use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, maintaining a drug premises, distribution of heroin and fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.