METRO DIGEST || South Side gang member pleads guilty to racketeering

South Side gang member pleads guilty

CLEVELAND

One of 23 men charged in a 42-count federal indictment targeting suspected members and associates of the LSP gang on Youngstown’s South Side has pleaded guilty to a a charge of conspiracy to commit racketeering.

Marques Duvall, 24, entered his plea Friday before U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, who will sentence him at 10 a.m. April 18.

Duvall broke into a towing company’s LaClede Avenue lot and damaged vehicles there, was photographed multiple times appearing to trim marijuana buds, made a recording saying he was going to sell crack cocaine and posed for a photograph with another LSP member who made a gang hand sign, the indictment says.

Duvall faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

LSP stands for LaClede, Sherwood, Parkview and Princeton avenues, where the U.S. attorney said the gang conducted its operations, including the crack, heroin and marijuana sales gang members allegedly used to support themselves.

Coalition event set

Youngstown

Members and supporters of West Side Citizens Coalition are planning a “We Love Youngstown” event for Feb. 11. Five community walks are scheduled at various locations to take a stand against crime and violence. Supporters of the event are asked to meet at the five locations at 5 p.m. and each walk will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Starting locations for the walks are Foxy’s, North Meridian Road; Strikers and Casa Ramirez on Mahoning Avenue; Molly’s Restaurant, Steel Street; and Pizza Joe’s in Cornersburg. Those who cannot walk in the event can participate by cheering the walkers at each site. Residents who cannot attend the event are asked to support the cause by turning on their porch lights from 5 to 11 p.m.

Routes for the walk can be accessed at http://g.co/- maps/4934f. For more information, contact Becky Hutton at 330-770-7375 or Sara Hendel-McCormick at 330-792-2003.

Tax statements sent

LISBON

Columbiana County Treasurer Nick Barborak announced that first-half 2011 real-estate tax statements have been mailed.

A total of 57,742 bills were sent, with the first round hitting the mail Tuesday. Barborak added that taxpayers who do not receive a statement by Monday should call his office. He noted that it is important to call if you do not receive your bill as failure to receive a statement does not excuse payment. The payments must be postmarked or received by the treasurer by March 9. If payment is not made timely, a 10 percent penalty will be added to the charge.

For those are already delinquent in their taxes, Barborak said that his office will work to get them into a payment plan that allows them to pay off the delinquency over time without further penalty. For more information, call 330-424-9514.

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