Friday, August 27, 2004
The fugitives should be considered armed and dangerous.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The FBI is offering rewards for five men reputed to be gang members accused of drug trafficking on the East Side.
FBI Special Agent John Lichtefeld said the five men are probably still in the city, hiding out with friends or relatives. They should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information should call the FBI in Boardman at (330) 965-2940 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After 4 and weekends, call the Youngstown Police Department at (330) 742-8926.
Lichtefeld said rewards will be paid for information leading to the arrests of:
UChristopher J. Anderson, also known as Slo-Juice, 28, of Kenneth Street. He is 6 feet 2 inches and 195 pounds.
UKendall Dotson, also known as L-K, 19, of Stewart Avenue. He is 5 feet 5 inches and 130 pounds.
UWilliam E. Gray, also known as Pootie, 24, of Forestview Avenue. He is 5 feet 10 inches and 190 pounds.
UEric Von Foster, also known as E, 20, of Seifert Avenue. He is 5 feet 9 inches and 174 pounds.
UJim L. Wallace, also known as Jimbo and Buck, 25, of Dundee Street. He is 5 feet 8 inches and 180 pounds.
Federal indictments
The five men who remain at large and 14 others, 13 men and one woman, were indicted by a federal grand jury last week. The 76-count indictment charges conspiracy to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine.
The FBI said Anderson, Dotson and Gray are members of the FLA Boyz and sold crack in the Forestview Avenue, Lansdowne Boulevard and Atkinson Avenue area. Von Foster and Wallace are members of the Sharon Line Mob and sold crack in the Jacobs Road area, the FBI said.
The Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force gang unit, made up of FBI agents and Youngstown police, made the case with more than 100 undercover drug buys and cooperating witnesses and informants. Also lending assistance was the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mahoning County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Marshals Service.
The investigation began last October after a complaint about drug activity landed on the desk of Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr.
meade@vindy.com