BOARDMAN Police, drug officers seize 103 pounds of marijuana

Investigators believe three men may have sold marijuana in the area since at least December.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Township police and the Drug Enforcement Agency have made four arrests in the past several days, taking more than 100 pounds of suspected marijuana -- packaged and ready to sell -- off the street.
Sgt. Michael Hughes of the Boardman narcotics enforcement unit said DEA officers had been investigating three men for several days on suspicion of drug distribution. That investigation culminated in a traffic stop Sunday afternoon.
Officers pulled over a 2002 Oldsmobile containing Malik Phillips, 26, of Cleveland, and Korey Jones, 26, of New York. A third man, Andre Bennett, 21, of Canada, was arrested a few hours later at the Red Roof Inn on Tiffany South, where he had been staying.
Hughes said officers found 26 pounds of marijuana on the men. The drugs were all packaged and ready for shipment, he said.
One of the men was also carrying a 4-inch folding knife, he said.
Phillips is charged with trafficking in marijuana and a felony, carrying a concealed weapon, the knife. Jones is charged with trafficking in marijuana and was given a minor misdemeanor citation charging drug abuse marijuana. Bennett is charged with conspiracy to trafficking in marijuana.
The men were arraigned in Boardman area court Monday and are being held in Mahoning County Jail. They will appear in court again at noon Monday for a preliminary hearing.
Investigators believe the three may have been selling marijuana in the area since at least December.
What happened Monday: Several township patrolmen went to a Lemans Drive apartment Monday in response to a complaint of loud music. Inside the apartment, officers found the strong odor of burning marijuana, police said
Hughes said the DEA was contacted and officers found about 77 pounds of marijuana. Officers also found a handgun under a mattress.
John Gadd, who had moved into the apartment from Florida three days earlier, was charged with trafficking in marijuana, permitting drug abuse and drug paraphernalia. He is being held in the county jail without bond. Police reports list Gadd as an illegal alien.
"The DEA is currently investigating to see if there is a tie between the arrests made Sunday and the resident arrested here Monday," said Hughes.
"That will not lead to any more charges against these men but may lead to more arrests in the future."
jgoodwin@vindy.com