MAHONING COUNTY Judge sentences Poland man in cocaine-trafficking case

Willis still faces more drug charges in another court.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 32-year-old Poland man who authorities say was the leader of a major Mahoning Valley cocaine ring was sentenced to prison Tuesday.
Judge Jack Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court ordered Shawn Willis to serve a total of four years for two counts of cocaine trafficking, to which Willis had pleaded guilty earlier this year.
Willis, of South Main Street, was one of seven men indicted by a county grand jury in 2001 for cocaine trafficking and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Terry Grenga, assistant prosecutor, said Willis was "at the top of the group," and the others assisted him in the operation.
Plea agreement
As part of his plea agreement, the charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity was dismissed.
Authorities have said the men supplied cocaine to others who sold it at bars in the city's suburbs and on the West Side. The network sold some 330 pounds of cocaine in the area over the past decade.
Grenga said she recommended a minimum sentence as part of a plea agreement with Willis because he cooperated with authorities in building cases against some of the other suspects.
Before the sentence was imposed, Willis said he accepts responsibility for his actions and was prepared to serve his time.
"I'm just begging for a little mercy," he said, his head bowed.
Under Ohio law, the judge could have deviated from the prosecutor's recommendation and imposed a longer prison term. Judge Durkin said he followed the recommendation only because of Willis' cooperation in the other cases.
Willis' attorney, Dennis DiMartino, said Willis is an intelligent man, even though he never graduated from high school.
"He managed to stay away from the long arm of the law for quite some time, and in many cases, that is no small feat," DiMartino said, noting that Willis has potential to be reformed.
Unrelated charges
DiMartino said Willis also faces unrelated drug charges in Judge Robert Lisotto's courtroom, and intends to plead guilty there as well.
Dennis Sarisky, the assistant prosecutor assigned to that case, said the charges involve cocaine trafficking and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. He intends to ask that any prison time for those charges be consecutive to Tuesday's sentence.
According to court documents, Willis is scheduled to plead guilty in Judge Lisotto's court next month.
Grenga said six of the seven men who were indicted in the drug ring have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. Only John Orosz of Patricia Avenue is still awaiting trial.
bjackson@vindy.com