The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

February 23, 2013

10th man admits role in drug ring

By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

SHARON — A Sharon man has pleaded guilty to racketeering and drug charges, the 10th to do so in a joint investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office and state police into a Farrell-based cocaine distribution ring.

Howard T. Owens, 46, of 135 Smith Ave., pleaded guilty Feb. 11 to being a member of a corrupt organization and delivery of cocaine.

The amount of cocaine attributed to Owens is a little more than 1 pound, prosecutors said.

The AGs’s office, which is prosecuting the case, withdrew 41 other counts.

A state grand jury accused Owens of selling cocaine 12 times in Farrell and once in Hermitage to an undercover state trooper between May 19 and Nov. 1 of 2010. Most of the sales were in increments of 1 to 2 ounces, with the last sale totaling nearly 4 ounces, the grand jury said.

The cases of two men associated with Owens are pending. Travis W. Black, 27, of 330 Lincoln St., Farrell, is accused of being a cocaine source for Owens, and Ronald L. McLean, 62, of 138 Wallis Ave., Farrell, has been charged with delivering cocaine to the trooper on Owens’ behalf four times.

The drug ring was run by Jason T. “Pizzle” Pinkins and distributed more than 200 pounds of cocaine in Mercer, Lawrence and Beaver counties.

Pinkins, 38, formerly of Farrell, is serving a prison term of 12 years, 3 months to 26 years.

Of the 13 men charged with being members of the ring – Black is not among them – two cases remain unresolved, and one case was dismissed.

Text Only
Local News
  • School board proposes 1st tax hike in 6 years

    Hermitage School Board is proposing the first property tax hike since 2007-08 under a 2013-14 budget tentatively approved Monday.

    May 21, 2013

  • School district facing big deficit and hard choices

    Sharon City School Board on Monday unanimously approved a preliminary budget for the 2013-14 school year includes a $2 million deficit.

    May 21, 2013

  • More than a million in Pa. denied right to vote

    More than 1 million registered voters in Pennsylvania will be barred from casting a ballot Tuesday because the state only allows registered Democrats and Republicans to participate in the primary election.

    May 21, 2013

  • District reserves to cover $500,000 shortfall

    Although Mercer Area School District has a $500,000 shortfall in its budget for the coming school year, school directors do not plan to raise taxes.

    May 20, 2013

  • Yes and no on voter ID

    After another “dry run” of a voter ID law under legal review, Pennsylvania voters might start chafing.

    May 20, 2013

  • Crash claims 21-year-old

    A 21-year-old Sandy Lake man was killed early Saturday when he lost control of his car and rolled it several times on Hadley Road, Perry Township.

    May 19, 2013

  • UPMC to judge: Throw out bias claim

    UPMC Horizon has asked a federal judge to throw out a former employee’s claim that he was discriminated against because of his gender.

    May 19, 2013

  • Judge Christopher St. John Judicial daily double

    This year marks the first time in the county’s 209 years as a judicial district that voters have the opportunity to choose a new judge, while also deciding whether to retain an existing one.

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • Court: Divorce pact still a contract

    Superior Court this week agreed with a local judge that a man’s change in fortune does not get him out from under an alimony agreement he entered long ago.

    May 18, 2013

  • sorg,sharon Sorg’s leadership expands to New Castle

    Herald Publisher Sharon A. Sorg is no stranger to hometown newspapers.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo