The purported ringleader of a drug-trafficking organization in the Youngstown-Warren area has pleaded guilty to 40 counts of drug-related federal charges.

Vincent L. Richardson Jr., 29, of Warren, pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and heroin; 21 counts of using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and various charges dealing with distribution and possession of the drugs.

U.S. Judge Christopher A. Boyko ordered Richardson to undergo a background investigation conducted by his probation officers and scheduled sentencing for Aug. 23 in his federal courtroom. The plea headed off a trial that was scheduled to begin Monday in Boyko’s court.

According to a U.S. Attorney news release on Sept. 10, 2020, one of the drug deals involved in this conspiracy case led to a fatal overdose.

According to court documents, 11 people — including Richardson — were part of a drug-trafficking organization in the Youngstown-Warren area from March 2019 to February 2020.

The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office and its Trumbull Action Group, and the Warren and Youngstown police departments. Also assisting was the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

Others involved in the case are:

• Kvonn L. Watson, 27, of Warren, received a 46-month prison sentence in February after pleading guilty April 22, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, fentanyl, fentanyl-related compounds and heroin plus charges of distribution of crack cocaine and fentanyl.

• Sean King, 34, pleaded guilty in February to the conspiracy charge as well as charges of distribution of heroin and fentanyl. King, who remains in the custody of the U.S. marshals, will be sentenced at 10 a.m. June 1.

• Marcus “Dub” Williams, 28, of Warren, pleaded guilty and received 40 months in federal prison on June 16, 2021;

• Randall “June Bug” Morgan, 36, of Warren, earlier pleaded guilty and was sentenced June 3, 2021, to 120 months in federal prison;

• Matthew “Swag” Calvin, 32, of Warren, earlier pleaded guilty and was sentenced June 9, 2021, to 96 months in federal prison;

• Del’reno Armstrong, 23, of Warren, was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison July 12, 2021;

• Jalissa Morgan, 30, of Warren, was given three years probation on Aug. 24, 2021;

• Aubrey Adams, 39, of Warren, has pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count with sentencing set for Boyko’s court May 20;

• Cases are pending against Stashon Williams, 36, and William Crenshaw, 37, both of Warren. Court records show Crenshaw’s trial is to begin June 14 before Boyko.