Three men arrested on drug-trafficking charges taken into federal custody

Staff report

WARREN

Three men arrested Tuesday afternoon at a house on Burton Street with 25 pounds of cocaine valued at $1.5 million have been taken from the Trumbull County Jail by federal officials.

The reason is so they can be charged in the federal courts, which typically hand down much more serious sentences, police say.

Larone Williams, 45, of Burton Street Southeast, Dockery Cleveland, 45, of Las Vegas and Menford McCain, 33, of Oak Street Southwest in Warren were taken to the county jail Tuesday, charged with drug trafficking.

But members of the U.S. Marshals Service removed them from the jail about 11:15 a.m. Thursday, according to jail records.

The Warren Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit issued a news release indicating that the arrests occurred during the execution of a search warrant at Williams’ house after a two-year investigation.

In addition to the drugs, police confiscated $100,000 in cash; a loaded, stolen handgun; and digital scales. Police were assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration Youngstown Resident Office.

Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel called the bust “significant,” saying it’s a lot of cocaine off the streets. “That amount of drugs will have a significant impact not only on the city but also on the surrounding communities.”