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Big Oak leader pleads to all counts

LISBON — Anthony Jackson, one of the major Operation Big Oak defendants, pleaded guilty to all the charges he was facing in Common Pleas Court this week.

Jackson, 31, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, participating in a criminal gang, aggravated possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, trafficking in cocaine, four counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and three counts of trafficking in heroin.

Jackson, also known by the nicknames of Rob and Tone, was involved in the drug trafficking enterprise involved in Down the Way gang, which was the indictment known as the Operation Big Oak. According to the charges, he was involved in the trafficking of large amounts of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin in 2016 and 2017.

In just one count of the indictment, beginning on Feb. 28, 2017 and continuing through March 29, 2017, Jackson allegedly sold or offered to sell 147.2 grams of fentanyl total during the course of many sales. Additionally, during the month of March 2017, the charges indicate he was involved in the trafficking of 28.75 total grams of crack cocaine over the course of many sales.

On June 6, 2017, Jackson was found to be concealing about 32 grams of fentanyl in his rectum during a traffic stop by law enforcement.

If all the counts were run consecutively, Jackson would be facing up to 56 and a half years in prison and fines of $117,500. During the plea hearing on Tuesday it was indicated the Ohio Attorney General’s office’s team of prosecutors will ask for a nine-year prison term at the time of sentencing, which is set for Oct. 21.

Of the 100 people indicted as a part of the Operation Big Oak indictment, there are four Jacksons — three brothers and an uncle — who are believed responsible for leading the gang activities which brought 1.4 million doses of drugs into Columbiana County from the Cleveland area.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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