Trending
Nine people charged last summer in a 59-count indictment concerning a drug-trafficking operation in the Youngstown area have avoided trial in U.S. Northern Ohio District Court.
All defendants in the case have either pleaded guilty, been sentenced or are awaiting a change-of-plea hearing, according to federal court records.
The last defendant who gave up his right to take his case in front of a jury was Dewayne A. McCullough, 35, of Youngstown.
At a hearing Tuesday before Judge Donald C. Nugent of U.S. Northern Ohio District Court, McCullough told attorneys he wanted to resolve the case instead of facing a jury. A change-of-plea hearing is set for June 23 in Nugent's courtroom.
McCullough faces charges of one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl compounds and methamphetamine. He remains in federal custody.
In February, the reputed ringleader of the drug trafficking operation -- Korey K. Moody, 37, of Boardman -- was given a 12-year prison sentence by Nugent. Moody 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 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 Lamar Knox, 32; Matthew J. Spain, 29; Cedrick Sanders, 43; Michael N. Childs Jr., 36; George V. Barnette, 37; and Ghalayah L. LaBooth, 42, all with Youngstown addresses; and Lawrence K. McBride, 50, of Salem.
The status of others who were indicted:
• 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;
• LaBooth on Feb. 8 pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and is scheduled to be sentenced by Nugent on Thursday. She has been released after posting a $10,000 bond;
• On March 31, Knox, 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," in December, pleaded guilty to one drug conspiracy charge.
• 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;
• 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.
gvogrin@tribtoday.com