The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 21, 2012

Convicted drug dealer faces new charges

By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

FARRELL —

 

A Farrell man who served a federal drug sentence was arrested Friday on charges that he supplied cocaine to a member of a ring that distributed the drug in three counties.

Travis W. Black, 26, of 330 Lincoln Ave., was arrested at about 2 p.m. at home by state police and an agent of the state Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and Drug Control.

Black was charged with four counts each of possession of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver and one count each of criminal use of a cellular telephone and conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver.

According to a grand jury report, Black supplied Howard T. Owens with 1 ounce of cocaine each on Oct. 1 and Oct. 29, both 2010, and 3 ounces each on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, both 2010, at undisclosed locations in Mercer County.

Owens, 45, of Sharon, is facing racketeering and drug charges, specifically charged with 13 drug transactions that involved large amounts of cocaine.

Owens was 1 of 13 people charged 14 months ago as part of the ring led by Jason T. Pinkins, who is serving a sentence of 12 years, 3 months to 26 years in prison. The ring distributed more than 200 pounds of cocaine in Mercer, Lawrence and Beaver counties, the AG’s office said.

District Judge Ronald E. Antos, Farrell, committed Black, who was arrested wearing a Firebirds Football T-shirt that said “Coach Trav” on the back, to Mercer County Jail, and set his preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. July 26. If Black attempts to post bail, Antos has the right to examine where the money is coming from.

According to authorities, Black was back to selling cocaine within seven months of being released from federal prison on a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 or more grams of crack.

Black was an open-air drug dealer working at Fruit Avenue and George Street when he sold 12.9 grams - a little less than half an ounce - of crack cocaine through an intermediary to an informant for $550 on Oct. 1, 2007, federal prosecutors said. When Black was arrested on Feb. 12, 2008, he had a gun, $1,005 and crack in his home, prosecutors said.

Black was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Black also told Antos he has a misdemeanor marijuana conviction in Trumbull County.

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