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Youngstown lawyers on trial in federal court
CLEVELAND
Jury selection began Friday 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.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. is presiding over the trial.
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.
In a federal case, Muth got five months in prison for growing 100 marijuana plants in his residence.
In a state case, Muth was sentenced to 18 months in prison in a Dec. 28, 2011, shooting at the Boardman home of Rawhneh’s ex-wife, in which nobody was hurt.
At the time, Muth was having a business dispute with Rawhneh.
The indictment says Rawhneh and Atway led Muth to believe that, unless Rawhneh got money and property from Muth and Muth’s stores, Rawhneh would appear at Muth’s sentencings and tell the judges facts that could result in harsher sentences for Muth.
Rawhneh is expected to testify against Atway and Cochran, according to Mike Tobin, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case.
The Hobbs Act counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Conspiracy to tamper with a witness, victim or informant also carries a 20-year prison term.
Lying to law enforcement carries a five- to eight-year prison term.
Cochran is a former Mahoning County Bar Association president.
He and Atway are partners in the Atway & Cochran law firm in downtown Youngstown.