Three men bound over to grand jury

Federal authorities say the men were growing and distributing marijuana.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Magistrate George J. Limbert ordered that three men arrested Oct. 27 after raids turned up cash, guns and thousands of cultivating marijuana plants remain in federal custody and be bound over to a grand jury.
Limbert found probable cause Thursday against Robert J. Poghen, 62, of Westminster Avenue, Austintown; Robert Maker, 62, of Stewart Court, Washington, Pa.; and Anthony Fawcett, 54, of Fifth Avenue, Hubbard. Each man has court-appointed counsel.
The government, in its criminal complaint, said the men have been cultivating and distributing marijuana. Members of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration task force used search warrants Oct. 27 to enter 30 Strausbaugh Ave. and across the street at F & amp;F Pastas, 1097 Wick Ave. The pasta shop is owned by Fawcett's ex-wife, the government said.
DEA agents from the Pittsburgh office raided Maker's residence.
Raids described
On Thursday, DEA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents described surveillance and raids that turned up about 2,000 growing suspected marijuana plants in one location and around 900 at a second location.
An ATF agent said raids included seizure of about $60,000 in guns and ammunition, including automatic weapons, pistols, shotguns, a silencer and about 18,000 rounds of ammunition. Poghen's defense counsel argued for his release from detention. Fawcett and Maker waived detention hearings.
Poghen's daughter testified she had a good relationship with her father and he would often help her take care of her children when she was attending late-afternoon college classes. She said she sometimes helped him financially as did her two brothers, both of whom live in Florida.
A woman who said Poghen has lived with her about 10 years testified she knew little about his association with the other men, and had no knowledge that there was nearly $10,000 in cash in the home they shared, that there was a key to a bank safe deposit box in the home, and that the safe deposit box contained $127,000 in cash.
She said Poghen lived on about $500 a month Social Security and money from his sons and daughter.
Linda H. Barr, an assistant U.S. attorney, has said the penalty is 10 years to life and a $4 million fine. She noted that for Fawcett and Maker, who have prior convictions, the penalty would be 20 years to life and an $8 million fine.