Lawyer says Youngstown client sold drugs to help family

YOUNGSTOWN — The lawyer for a man who pleaded guilty to federal drug charges wrote in a sentencing memorandum this week his client turned to drug dealing to help his family.

Jeffrey Kurz, attorney for Michael Flores Maldonado, wrote in a memo to Judge Christopher A. Boyko of the U.S. Northern District Court Of Ohio that his client began working in the drug trade after an car accident in May 2013, involving his mother and stepfather, because he needed money right away but could not find a job.

Maldonado is set to be sentenced Tuesday by Judge Boyko after pleading guilty to charges he was involved in distributing heroin in Youngstown in July and August 2013 with another man, Santos Rivera.

Maldonado faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in federal prison.

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