Boardman business owner faces drug charges

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A Mahoning County grand jury will consider the case of a township man after a raid of his home and business led to the discovery of drugs.

Christopher Berardino, 34, the owner of a township beer and wine shop, faces felony charges of possession of cocaine and possession of MDMA (a methamphetamine), and a misdemeanor charge of possession of steroids.

The charges stem from a Dec. 9 raid of The Steel Yard, 18 Boardman-Poland Road, and Berardino’s Western Reserve Road apartment.

When police searched the business, where they found Berardino and his 1-year-old daughter, they found a syringe filled with clear liquid on him, hash oil, drug paraphernalia, steroids and a lithium pill.

When law-enforcement officials simultaneously searched his apartment, where they were looking for documents related to drug-trafficking activities, they reportedly found cocaine, marijuana, MDMA and drug paraphernalia.

Berardino reportedly admitted to police that the marijuana was his and that he buys it for himself and his friends. He initially said he had a prescription for the testosterone that police found, but then admitted he did not, police said.

At the time, Berardino was cited for improper conduct of a liquor-permit holder for drug possession.

A call to The Steel Yard on Thursday went to an answering machine, and an automated message said no one was available there.