Ohio, Pa. officials charge 12 with drug trafficking

Staff report

farrell, pa.

Twelve people, most from Mercer and Lawrence counties, are charged with participation in a cocaine-trafficking ring.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police and local police are in the process of arresting them, the attorney general’s office said Thursday.

The attorney general’s office said the central figure in the drug sales operation is Jason Pinkins, 36, of Hamilton Avenue in Farrell.

Pinkins is charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, 13 counts of possession, 13 counts of possession with intent to deliver, and one count each of criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Family members and other close associates helped Pinkins in an operation believed to be responsible for the distribution and sale of about 100 kilos of suspected cocaine in Mercer, Lawrence and Beaver counties since 2010, the attorney general’s office said.

Information about the operation was obtained through court-ordered wiretaps, undercover drug purchases, controlled buys and search warrants, the office said.

Others charged and the charges against them:

Phillip Pinkins, 34, Cedar Avenue, Sharon: 24 counts of possession, 22 counts of possession with intent to deliver, 22 counts of delivery, one count each of conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dezmon Bennett, 32, Fruit Avenue, Farrell: possession, possession with intent to deliver, delivery, conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.

John Crosby, 37, Spearman Avenue, Farrell: nine counts of possession, nine counts of intent to deliver, four counts of delivery, one count of conspiracy and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.

Terence Hopson, 24, Sherman Avenue, Sharon: eight counts of possession, eight counts of intent to deliver, three counts of delivery, conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.

Juan Houston, 32, Fruit Avenue, Farrell: three counts of possession, three counts of intent to deliver, conspiracy and use of a communications facility.

Billy D. McKnight, 34, North Greenwood Avenue, New Castle: five counts of possession, five counts of intent to deliver, conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.

Ronald McLean, 60, Wallis Avenue, Farrell: four counts of possession, four counts of intent to deliver, four counts of delivery and conspiracy.

Esnesto Okane, 35, Roemer Boulevard, Farrell: possession, intent to deliver, conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.

Howard Troy Owens, 44, Smith Avenue, Sharon: 13 counts of possession, intent to deliver, delivery, conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.

Roshon Pinkins, 32, Cedar Avenue, Sharon: two counts of possession, two counts of intent to deliver, conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.

Vance Walker, 43, Ohio River Boulevard, Baden, Pa.: six counts of possession, six counts of intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, possessing firearms while legally prohibited from doing so; criminal use of a communications facility and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All suspects are also charged with two counts of participating in a corrupt organization.