YOUNGSTOWN TRIAL Lawyers: Clients' group isn't a gang

Jurors saw a picture of the Playas and heard a sampling of their rap recording.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two city men on trial for gang-related drug activity should not be found guilty by association, their lawyers said Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
"Just because my client associates with a group of lifetime friends who just happen to have criminal records does not mean he is part of a gang," said Atty. Walter Ritchie.
Ritchie represents 19-year-old Tony Davis of Byron Street, who is on trial on charges of trafficking in crack cocaine and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Darnell R. Wright, 23, of South Forrest Avenue, is on trial for the same charges. He is represented by Atty. Robert Melnick.
Anti-gang law: Assistant Prosecutor Robert E. Duffrin said the two are members of the Ayers Street Playas, a gang that controlled drug activity in their East Side neighborhood. They are the first in Mahoning County to be charged and tried under Ohio's relatively new anti-gang law.
In his opening statement to jurors, Duffrin showed a photograph of the Playas dressed in matching red shirts and displaying their gang name and hand signal -- the index and middle fingers of the right hand held upside-down to form the outline of an "A."
Ritchie said the photo was taken when the Playas, which he called a "social group," performed a rap music concert at East High School a year ago. They were hoping to be "discovered" by someone in the audience who would give them a recording contract, he said.
The Playas pooled their money and recorded a compact disc of their music. Duffrin played a portion of it for jurors as he showed the photograph.
Ritchie and Melnick said that their clients socialize with others who are under indictment for gang activity but that there's no proof Davis or Wright are members of a gang.
Complaints from neighbors: FBI Special Agent Michael Cizmar testified that a local gang task force received numerous complaints from Ayers Street residents about drug trafficking in their neighborhood, which is what spurred the 10-month investigation leading to the arrests.
Wright and Davis were among 14 people indicted earlier this year on the cocaine and corrupt activity charges. Three others have pleaded guilty and at least one is expected to testify against Wright and Davis.
Four defendants who are awaiting trial themselves were in the courtroom Tuesday to watch the proceedings.
bjackson@vindy.com