Lavocni Brown

STEUBENVILLE — The man described by authorities as the kingpin of a massive fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation in Steubenville and two of his alleged underlings were among 14 people indicted Wednesday by the Jefferson County grand jury.

Ordered to stand trial as major drug offenders were Lavocni Jerome Brown, 1416 Pennsylvania Ave., Steubenville; Lionel Robert Lindsey Jr., 52, 112 McDowell Ave., Steubenville, described as Brown’s right-hand man; and Cherie R. Nelson, 55, 614 Lawson Ave., Steubenville, described as his “high-level associate.”

Brown, 71, is facing four counts of possession of cocaine, four counts of trafficking cocaine, four counts of possession of fentanyl-related compounds and four counts of trafficking fentanyl-related compounds. The indictment includes major drug offender specifications and seeks the forfeiture of three vehicles — a 2014 Cadillac, a 2018 Audi A6 and a 2020 Chevy Suburban LT — as well as homes he owns at 731 Oakmont Ave., 825 Oakmont Ave., 500 Union Ave., 1403 Plum St., 517 Maxwell Ave. and 1416 Pennsylvania Ave. and $6,540 in cash, all believed to be proceeds from the alleged drug operation.

Lindsey was indicted on two counts of possession of cocaine, two counts of trafficking cocaine, two counts of possession of fentanyl-related compounds and two counts of trafficking fentanyl-related compounds, as well as a having weapon under disability. His indictment includes major drug offender and firearm specifications and seeks forfeiture of a total of $160,343 in cash; eight vehicles –a Bentley Continental, a GMC Yukon, a Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, a Vanderhall Motor Works motorcycle, an Audi A4, an Audi A8, an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and a Can-Am Ryker three-wheel motorcycle; homes at 333 Summit Ave. and 112 McDowell Ave., all believed to be proceeds of the alleged drug operation, and a handgun.

Nelson was named in a four-count indictment charging her with possessing cocaine, trafficking cocaine, possession of a fentanyl-related compound and trafficking a fentanyl-related compound, with a major drug offender specification. Prosecutors also are seeking forfeiture of $1,430 in cash, a gun, a 1997 Jeep Wrangler and a home she owned at 616 Lawson Ave., all believed to be proceeds of the alleged drug trafficking.

Cherie Nelson

The Jefferson County Drug Task Force had initially reported finding more than 18 pounds of suspected cocaine and fentanyl in Lindsey’s McDowell Avenue home and Nelson’s home on Lawson Avenue on Aug. 15. Searches of additional properties a week later yielded more illegal drugs and cash, they’d said.

Authorities allege Brown, in the Jefferson County Jail at the time of the raids on an unrelated misdemeanor, controlled the drug operation, even giving the other two orders even from behind bars.

The charges against Lindsey include cocaine and fentanyl allegedly found in his storage unit and one of his vehicles, while the charges against Nelson stem from cocaine and fentanyl allegedly found in her home.

Others indicted include:

• Reginald Dwayne Johnson Jr., 23, 515 Pittsburgh St., Steubenville, felonious assault and escape, both felonies.

Lionel Lindsey

Authorities allege Johnson, 23, assaulted former city Councilman Scott Dressel Sept. 27 when he tried to break up a domestic disturbance outside his downtown property.

At the time Dressel and his son told police they’d heard a couple arguing so they went outside to investigate. Dressel approached the pair “and began to explain that they were causing a disturbance and (needed) to leave” when the man punched him in the face.

The escape charge was tacked on Oct. 12 after Johnson allegedly fled detention,

• Maybelle R. Kernen, 34, 635 Grandview Ave., Steubenville, gross sexual imposition. The felony indictment alleges that, on or about March 1, Kernen had improperly touched the genitalia of a child under the age of 12 and that the touching was done “with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade or arouse or gratify … sexual desire.”

• Leonard Alan Demoss, 43, 120 Aetna St., Mingo Junction, domestic violence, a misdemeanor. Demoss allegedly broke his girlfriend’s jaw during an Aug. 28 domestic disturbance, authorities say.

• Ryan Neal Custer, 48, 185 2nd St., Dillonvale, aggravated arson, a felony. Authorities allege Custer set his significant other’s Dillonvale home down June 25 because it held her clothes, “the only thing that was important to her.”

• Gregory Allen Stiles, 54, 804 Fernwood Drive, Toronto, failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a felony.

Authorities allege Stiles led police on a high-speed chase through downtown Steubenville onto state Route 7 North, reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and putting lives and property at risk. He was taken into custody in a wooded area off a dirt road in Pottery Addition.

• Jordan A. Manns, 26, 100 Parkdale Road, Steubenville, having weapons under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, all felonies, and two misdemeanor counts of menacing.

Manns allegedly had a loaded gun in his possession Oct. 5 despite being banned from having or using them due to a 2016 felony conviction for wanton endangerment with a firearm in Hancock County, and threatened two officers and their families.

• Carvie Jamar Lynch, 37, 311 Cedar Ave, Steubenville, having weapons under disability, a felony, and misdemeanor charges of using weapons while intoxicated and obstructing official business, on Aug. 26.

Authorities allege Lynch was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when Steubenville police took him into custody Aug 26 with a loaded .380 caliber handgun in his possession. Due to a 2011 drug trafficking conviction in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court, Lynch is barred from having or using a weapon.

Lynch allegedly tried to flee police, they said.

• John Allen Raymond, 51, 5135 county Road 74, Mingo Junction, burglary, a felony. Raymond allegedly broke into a building Sept. 17.

• Gabriel Earl Mortier, 1011 Biltmore Ave., Toronto, failure to register, a felony, Oct. 22.

Authorities say Mortier, 47, is required to regularly update his status as a sex offender due to 2017 felony convictions for sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in Tuscarawas County.

• Alan Roy Ciotti, 28, 711 N. Fourth St., Toronto, failure to register, a felony, June 10.

Authorities allege Ciotti is required to update his residency due to a 2016 conviction in Liverpool, England, for sexual activity with a child under 16/

Grand jurors also amended an indictment they’d originally returned in November against George Mavromatis, 123 New Alexandria Road, Brilliant, to reflect the government’s intention to seize $17,400 in cash and a 1985 black Corvette believed to be proceeds of alleged drug trafficking. Mavromatis, 36, had been indicted in November on charges of possession of cocaine with a major drug offender specification; trafficking cocaine; aggravated possession of drugs and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, all felonies.

Mavromatis allegedly had 444 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of methamphetamine stuffed “in a guitar case” and a loaded handgun in his car when authorities pulled him over Sept. 19.