Underage liquor sales net seven citations

Staff report

NILES

A charge of selling beer to underage patrons was filed against employees at seven Niles businesses on Friday during a covert operation designed to stop the practice in anticipation of the high-school prom season.

All seven employees were issued citations ordering them to appear in Niles Municipal Court later this week on the misdemeanor charge.

The summonses also were forwarded to the Ohio Investigative Unit of the Ohio Division of Liquor Control for possible citations on the state liquor permits of the businesses, Niles police said.

Those charged were Yahsar Ahmaed, 26, of Youngstown, working at Village Market, 1320 S. Main St.; Ronda K. Jessup, 44, of Warren, working at Red Dragon Convenient, 505 N. Main St.; Elias Shamatta, 61, of Middleburg Heights, working at Didi’s Beverage, 5614 Youngstown Road; Jeffrey D. Weimer, 41, of Cortland, working at Walgreens, 5027 Youngstown Road; Christina F. Carpenter, 39, of Girard, working at Pit N Git, 522 Robbins Ave.; Tony Auburn, 29, of Niles, working at Cottage Market, 2318 Robbins Ave.; and Robert E. Glenn, 28, of Warren, working at McQuaid’s, 501 Vienna Ave.

Police attempted to make purchases at seven other businesses that checked identification and refused to make sales to underage purchasers, Niles police said.