Youngstown man gets 20 months for role in drug ring

Youngstown man gets 20 months for role in drug ring

One of the nine people charged last summer in a 59-count indictment concerning a drug-trafficking operation in the Youngstown area was sentenced this week in U.S. Northern Ohio District Court to a federal sentence combined with a state prison term he is now serving.

Lamar E. Knox, 32, formerly of 710 Pasadena Ave., Youngstown, was sentenced to 20 months, a term that is to run concurrent to a state prison sentence of 12 months that was given last November by Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge R. Scott Krichbaum for a drug-possession conviction.

State prison records show Knox being incarcerated in Lorain Correctional Institution, with a scheduled release date of Oct. 15, 2022. When he has completed the state portion of the sentence, he will be transferred to federal custody.

Knox, also known as "Mar Mar," appeared March 31 before Judge Donald C. Nugent in U.S. Northern Ohio District Court. In December, he pleaded guilty to one drug conspiracy charge.

Once released, Knox faces three years of supervision and was assessed a court cost of $100.

In February, Korey K. Moody, 36, of Youngstown, who was accused of being the ringleader of the drug-trafficking operation, was given a 12-year prison sentence by Nugent. Moody also pleaded guilty last November to one charge of conspiracy with intent to possess and distribute the drugs.

According to court documents, from July 2019 to December 2019, Moody supplied heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl compounds, cocaine and methamphetamine to other members of the conspiracy for distribution in the areas around Youngstown. Court documents state that Moody received his drug supply from individuals in Michigan and, in turn, provided the drugs to other members of the conspiracy for redistribution.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force. This case was prosecuted by U.S. Assistant Attorney Yasmine Makridis.

Also named in the indictment are Matthew J. Spain, 28; Cedrick Sanders, 42; Michael N. Childs Jr., 35; Dewayne A. McCullough, 35; George V. Barnette, 37; and Ghalayah L. LaBooth, 42, all with Youngstown addresses; and Lawrence K. McBride, 50, of Salem.

McCullough faces a May 31 jury trial on charges of one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl compounds and methamphetamine. He remains in federal custody.

The others who were indicted in the case either have pleaded guilty or have been sentenced:

• McBride on March 25 pleaded guilty to the conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl compounds and methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced July 12 by Nugent. McBride remains in federal custody;

• Childs on March 24 pleaded guilty to the drug-conspiracy charge and another count of distribution of heroin and fentanyl. His sentencing is set for June 30 before Nugent;

• Sanders was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison March 14. He had pleaded guilty Nov. 19, to one count of conspiracy and one count of distributing heroin and fentanyl;

• Spain, of Ridge Avenue, Youngstown, was sentenced in early March to seven years in prison. On Nov. 23, 2021, Spain pleaded guilty to conspiracy and another count of distribution of heroin and fentanyl;

• LaBooth on Feb. 8 pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and is scheduled to be sentenced by Nugent on May 31. She has been released after posting a $10,000 bond;

• Barnette was sentenced Dec. 1 by Nugent to five months in a federal prison. He also was ordered to be on a supervised release for three years. Records show Barnette pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to a drug conspiracy count with five counts of use of a communication facility in drug trafficking dismissed.