Thursday, October 19, 2017
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
His attorney said Louis Edwards was going through a divorce and needed some cash, so Edwards turned to what he knew would make him a lot of money: selling drugs.
That also led to Edwards getting a six-year prison sentence Wednesday from Judge R. Scott Krichbaum in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on three first-degree felony counts of trafficking in cocaine.
Assistant Prosecutor Steve Maszczak said the sentence was agreed upon between himself and defense attorney Sam Amendolara.
Edwards, 50, of Brookview Court in Austintown, was indicted earlier this year after undercover officers from the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force bought cocaine from him twice in August 2016 and a third time in September 2016. On those occasions, officers bought between 27 and 100 grams of cocaine, enough to make the charges a first-degree felony.
Maszczak said a prison sentence is necessary because of Edwards’ past criminal record, which includes a carrying concealed weapon charge in 1989, two attempted possession of drugs charges in 1994 and 2002 and a possession of cocaine charge in 2013.
Amendolara said his client is very remorseful and was prepared to accept responsibility for his actions. Amendolara said his client was going through a divorce last year when he turned to drug dealing again to raise cash. He said that was not an excuse, however, for his client’s actions.
Edwards, who kissed a female family member on the cheek before he was called to stand before the judge, also apologized.
“I’m wrong, and I accept responsibility,” Edwards said. “I don’t know what else to say.”
Judge Krichbaum said that Edwards could have been sentenced to far more time had he not chosen to accept a plea bargain, and he said that is to his advantage because sometimes the law rewards someone who takes responsibility for their actions.
However, the judge said Edwards had been in trouble before and should have known that if he was caught after he started selling drugs again the penalty would be severe.
“This is the old ‘shame on you’ thing because you had your charges in the past and you just don’t get it,” Judge Krichbaum said.
Edwards got credit for serving 37 days in jail. He was free on bond before his sentencing.