×

Tiona Jones sentenced to 14 years

LISBON — Tiona Jones, the leader of a gang of reputed drug dealers in Salem, was sentenced on Thursday to 14 years in prison after Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam denied her request to withdraw her plea in a written opinion last week.

The 35-year-old from Warren, also known as T, was the one leading a gang of family members and acquaintances as they sold drugs, including heroin and cocaine; assaulted those who got in their way; and stole items from people and stores. Those who owed Jones money were reportedly ordered to steal what she wanted to pay her back.

Following Thursday’s hearing, Chief Assistant County Prosecutor John Gamble said the gang preyed on drug addicts and those who were most vulnerable in the Salem community. While Gamble said he does not want to say the opioid addiction problem ended with the arrest of Jones and her gang, he believes the number of drug offenses, property crimes and assaults were drastically reduced.

“It made the community of Salem safer,” Gamble said, “and had a positive effect.”

Gamble offered thanks to Salem police Detective Dave Talbert, Sgt. John Sheets and Chief Dave Panezott as well as East Palestine Police Chief Jim Brown, who previously worked as an investigator with the county prosecutor’s office. Gamble noted prosecuting Jones and the other members of the gang would not have been possible without the vast amount of evidence the investigators collected over a two-year period.

At the advice of her defense attorney, Ross Smith, Jones did not address the court prior to her sentencing. Smith indicated other motions may be filed, but did not elaborate if he will be appealing the case.

One of the charges Jones had pleaded guilty to was engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity with a specification, a charge which carries a mandatory 10-year prison term.

On April 4, Jones had pleaded guilty to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, complicity to felonious assault, complicity to aggravated burglary, intimidation of a witness to a criminal case, two counts of money laundering and four counts of conspiracy to trafficking in drugs.

At the end of May, Jones had expressed a desire to withdraw the guilty plea, which was denied by Washam.

Jones has been credited with 575 days already served.

Charges are still pending against some of her co-defendants, which includes her 84 year-old grandmother, Selena Pruitt of Warren, who is charged with conspiracy to trafficking in drugs with a specification.

The other co-defendants are Malcolm L. Gilford, also known as Spade, 31; Susan L. Jones, 56; Vincent L. McGary, also known as Vinny, 38; Marvin W. Harsch, 29; Bradley J. Deatley, 33; Tina M. Taylor, 46; and Antonio T. Torres II, also known as AT, 30.

Torres had been scheduled for a hearing on Thursday morning also, but did not appear because he was reportedly in federal custody on other charges.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today