Jury selection starts for Youngstown lawyers charged with extortion

CLEVELAND

Jury selection began today for the trial of two Youngstown lawyers indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of extortion and obstructing justice.

Atty. Scott Cochran, 43, of Austintown, and Atty. Neal Atway, 47, of Youngstown, could spend the rest of their lives in prison if they’re convicted.

Atway and Cochran are charged with two counts each of violating the Hobbs Act — extortion by the wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence or fear.

They also face two counts each of conspiring to tamper with a witness, victim or informant; and one count each of making false statements to law enforcement. They are accused of lying to FBI agents investigating this case.

A co-defendant, Mohd Rawhneh, 54, of Boardman, pleaded guilty last May to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and awaits sentencing at 10 a.m. March 18.

Rawhneh admitted he conspired between 2009 and 2012 with an unidentified Ohio Department of Taxation worker in Youngstown to file false sales-tax returns with the state.

The bill of information Rawhneh pleaded guilty to says Rawhneh is affiliated with stores in Ravenna, Kent, East Liverpool, Howland and Hanoverton as an owner or agent.

Atway and Cochran are charged with trying to extort money for Rawhneh from another convenience store owner, Charles B. Muth, 42, of Canfield, a defendant in criminal cases, who was being represented by Atway and Cochran.

Read more about the case in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.