More than a dozen people are facing charges for running a drug ring out of Lawrence County.
The Department of Justice listed 17 individuals from New Castle, Youngstown, and Puerto Rico in the indictment.
DOJ officials say members of two groups would transport significant amounts of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Western PA and Ohio. A couple of the defendants are also facing illegal firearm charges.
The defendants are facing anywhere from 20 years to life in prison.
DOJ officials also say this is a part of efforts to crack down on illegal drug distribution in Lawrence County, which was listed as a “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area” by the White House in 2022.
