Submitted photo From left, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Rosa, Deputy Bryan Brooks, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Dave Toepfer, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force Commander Larry McLaughlin and Deputy Tyrone Hyshaw participated in a recognition ceremony recently honoring the task force for its work on a drug case.

YOUNGSTOWN — The U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio David Toepfer recently honored the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force and its commander for their work in the criminal case against Rayshawn Hall of Youngstown.

Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene later congratulated Commander Sgt. Larry McLaughlin and the members of the task force for being presented with the 2025 Partnership of the Year Award for the Youngstown region ceremony Thursday in Cleveland.

Toepfer nominated the task force for its work, alongside agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in the arrest and conviction of Hall on charges relating to the sale and distribution of drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Hall was sentenced in U.S. District Court in September 2025 and is serving 23 years in prison.

In presenting the award Thursday, Toepfer stated that the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office is a “key partner in our efforts to protect the public. Under the leadership of Sheriff Greene, his deputies and task force officers work shoulder-to-shoulder with federal agents every day and play critical roles in bringing the worst offenders to justice.

“We are thankful for their partnership and commend the men and women of his office for their exceptional professionalism.”

The Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force is a joint effort of officers and agents with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Youngstown Police Department, Austintown Police Department, Springfield Township Police Department, Struthers Police Department, Vienna Township Police Department, Girard Police Department, Poland Township. Police Department, Liberty Township Police Department, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FBI and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives.