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Two get prison sentences on drug trafficking charges
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Two men received prison sentences Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for trafficking in heroin.
Luis Laviena, 26, who has addresses on Bruce Street and Selma Avenue listed in court records, received a two-year sentence from Judge Maureen Sweeney after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight counts of trafficking in heroin.
Five of the counts were fourth-degree felonies, while two were third-degree felonies and the remainder was a second-degree felony.
Laviena pleaded guilty to selling heroin from a home on North Garland Avenue earlier this year.
Assistant Prosecutor Michael Yacovone said the sentence was agreed upon by him and defense counsel Tony Meranto. Yacovone said the agreement calls for the entire two years to be served.
Meranto asked Judge Sweeney to honor the plea agreement, saying that his client has no prior criminal record, and because of his young age. Laviena also asked the judge to honor the agreement, saying he has never been in trouble before and does not want to be again.
“I apologize for everything I’ve done,” Laviena said. “I’ve learned my lesson. You won’t see me here again.”
“I hope not,” Judge Sweeney answered. She agreed to a defense request to allow Laviena to report to the county jail Monday to turn himself in so he can be transported to prison,
Also sentenced to a year in prison by Judge R. Scott Krichbaum was Tony Davis, 34, of East Warren Avenue, who pleaded guilty to two fourth-degree felony counts of trafficking in heroin. That sentence also was agreed upon by Yacovone and Davis’ lawyer, Michael Kivlighan.
Yacovone said prison time for Davis is necessary because Davis has served time for trafficking offenses before and also because two of the transactions where he was recorded selling heroin were around children. In one of those transactions, his 6-month-old son was in another room, and in the other, Davis sold heroin while children played basketball in his backyard.
Kivlighan said his client takes responsibility for his actions, and he also asked Judge Krichbaum that at some point during Davis’ sentence if he would be allowed to be released to the Community Corrections Association for their treatment program and for help in getting a job. Kivlighan said his client has a substance-abuse problem and also could not find a job, which is one of the reasons he turned to selling drugs.
Davis said he is a changed man.
“I will no longer let my past be an excuse to keep me from being the man I need to be for my family,” Davis said. “I need to be a better example for my children.” Judge Krichbaum said Davis’ words sound good, but what really matters are his actions.
“You say all the right things. I just hope you mean all the things you say,” Judge Krichbaum said.
Yacovone said prison time will be sought for drug dealers whenever possible.
“Dealers are a priority, especially in heroin cases,” Yacovone said.
Both cases were investigated by the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.