Youngstown man charged with selling heroin that resulted in fatal overdose, as well as firearm and other drug violations

A Youngstown man was charged in a with firearms and narcotics violations, including selling heroin that resulted in a fatal overdose, said Carole S. Rendon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Lebron Charles Bunkley, 37, is named in the six-count indictment. The charges include distribution of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine. The indictment also allegeds that on May 14, 2016 in Youngstown, a person fatally overdosed on heroin sold by Bunkley.

Bunkley is also charged with possessing a Walther, model P22, .22 pistol, an FIE, model Tital, .25 pistol and ammunition on May 18, despite numerous prior felony convictions, including assault, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime and being a felon in possession of a firearms, according to the indictment.

Bunkley is also charged with possessing the above-mentioned firearms and ammunition in furtherance of the aforementioned drug trafficking crimes, according to the indictment.

“This defendant has a long history of crime, which has now expanded to include selling drugs that resulted in the death of another person,” Rendon said.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.