Mingo man sentenced on drug charges
STEUBENVILLE — John M. Viers, 39, of 96 Spruce Lane, Mingo Junction, was sentenced to a mandatory 10 years in prison on Wednesday by Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge after Viers pleaded guilty to drug charges.
Viers pleaded guilty to three counts each of possession of drugs and drug trafficking and one county of drug trafficking, a felony of the first degree, which also had a specification of the drug sale being within 1,000 feet of Harding Middle School.
Viers initially was indicted by the county grand jury in August on 17 counts of drug possession, 24 counts of drug trafficking and one count of having a weapon under disability. County Assistant Prosecutor Samuel Pate dismissed all the charges except the ones to which Viers pleaded guilty.
A codefendant, Keith J. Baker, 41, of 1243 Arlington Ave. was indicted on 12 counts of drug possession and 24 counts of drug trafficking. His case is pending.
The Jefferson County Drug Task Force on June 1 confiscated 110 grams of heroin, 76 grams of crack cocaine and $60,000 in cash during a drug bust involving Viers and Baker.
Jason Hanlin of the drug task force said a controlled drug buy was conducted in the Hollywood City Center and Viers was arrested. Hanlin said the drug task force then was able to obtain two search warrants.
Officers went to a house at 1323 Ridge Ave. and found the large amounts of heroin and crack cocaine and about $7,000 in cash. About 2 pounds of marijuana also was seized. Another search warrant was executed at 637 Spring Ave., where 5 pounds of marijuana, a handgun and about $50,000 in cash were found. Hanlin said Viers had about $3,000 on him when he was arrested. The drug task force also confiscated 42 pairs of Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes, still in boxes and never worn, from the Ridge Avenue home. The boxes had price stickers of $350.
Hanlin said Viers had been under surveillance and was seen at both houses prior to the controlled drug buy.
In addition to City Police, the county sheriff’s department, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Toronto Police and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority participated in the drug raids.
County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin said the drug task force was able to make three controlled drug buys from Viers and Baker. She said Viers was the supplier and Baker was the middle man. Laboratory tests of the drugs sold showed the drugs contained a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.
Viers agreed to forfeit $61,639. Bruzzese ordered the cash forfeited to the county drug task force
The handgun found during the raid was stolen, and Bruzzese ordered the gun returned to the registered owner.
(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)
COMMENTS