Youngstown man convicted in 1996 Biondillo murder pleads guilty to drug charges

YOUNGSTOWN

A man who served prison time for a mob murder in 1996 pleaded guilty to drug charges Wednesday that can possibly land him in prison for 20 more years.

George Wilkins, 40, of McClure Street in Struthers, entered guilty pleas before Judge Maureen Sweeney in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in two cases on several counts of trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in heroin and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Prosecutors and defense attorney Tom Zena have agreed on a sentence of 14 years, of which 11 years are mandatory and there is also the possibility Wilkins could be sentenced to an additional five years by a federal court for violating his probation there.

Wilkins was stopped by Struthers police in August, and police found three kilos of cocaine and a kilo and a half of heroin.

Youngstown police officer Bob Patton said the drugs were still in their pure form and could fetch more than $1 million after they are cut, or diluted.

Patton said because of Wilkins’ cooperation police were able to arrest Wilkerson, a major supplier from New York, a distributor from Pittsburgh and investigators also know of 12 other people locally Wilkins was distributing the drugs to.

Wilkins was one of three men accused and sentenced for carrying out the June 3, 1996, slaying of 53-year-old Ernie Biondillo as he was driving to work on the East Side.

Read the complete story in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.