MAHONING VALLEY Probe leads to drug charges

The defendant was expected to appear in federal court later today.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- A Youngstown man who federal agents say is a major distributor of crack cocaine has been arrested on drug trafficking charges.
Arthur Clinkscale, 44, of Covington, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Jib Jab Hot Dog Shoppe here.
Frank D'Allesio of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' Youngstown office said Clinkscale's arrest was the result of an eight-month investigation, during which several undercover buys were made.
"He went to the restaurant Tuesday to sell drugs to one of our undercover guys," D'Allesio said. "He will be facing multiple counts of drug trafficking."
The state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, the Mahoning and Trumbull County drug task forces, and Youngstown, Girard and Niles police participated in the investigation.
Possible sentence
"With the amount of crack cocaine he had with him today, he is looking at a 10-year prison sentence," D'Allesio said.
Clinkscale was being held in the Mahoning County jail and was to be in U.S. District Court in Youngstown later today.
Police think Clinkscale was a major distributor of powder and crack cocaine.
"This is a good example of how all the agencies were able to join forces and work together," D'Allesio said.
ATF agents said in November they would be working closely with Trumbull County officials to crack down on area drug offenders.
The Youngstown ATF office covers 11 counties: Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Portage, Stark, Wayne, Holmes, Tuscarawas, Carroll, Jefferson and Harrison.
D'Allesio said some crimes the agency wants to target are convicted felons who carry firearms in violation of their parole and drug traffickers who have guns.
ATF enforces federal laws relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson.
sinkovich@vindy.com