Trial under way for brothers charged with drug trafficking, burglaries

YOUNGSTOWN — Zoltan J. Kozic and his brother, Jamie D. Kozic, engaged in a corrupt enterprise consisting of burglaries across four counties and Oxycontin trafficking in Mahoning County, a prosecutor told jurors in his opening statement in the Kozics’ trial.

Defense lawyers admitted their clients’ drug addiction, but said the rest of the prosecution’s case doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny.

Martin P. Desmond, an assistant county prosecutor, outlined his case today in the trial, over which visiting Judge Thomas P. Curran is presiding in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. The trial is expected to last two weeks.

Zoltan Kozic, 37, of East Calla Road, New Middletown, is charged with six counts of burglary, two counts of Oxycontin trafficking and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Jamie Kozic, 31, of Wilson Street, Struthers, is charged with 11 burglary counts, four Oxycontin trafficking counts and one count each of possessing criminal tools (a screwdriver) and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com