Staff/Wire reports

LEBANON - Three Chicago-area men face indictments in connection with $40,000 worth of tobacco products found in a van on Interstate 71.

"The van was loaded down to the point where it was dragging," said Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel. "It was loaded top to bottom, front to back with contraband tobacco products."

Authorities say the suspects, headed from Florence to Columbus on Dec. 23, were attempting to avoid taxes on the products, Hutzel said.

The suspects are Victor A. Alfaro, 21; Abdul Basit Godil, 28; and Naeem Mirza, 49.

In indictments made public Monday, all three are charged with trafficking in tobacco products with intent to avoid tax, a fourth-degree felony.

Avondale man guilty in shaking death of baby

A 30-year-old Avondale man will spend the next 10 years in prison after a judge convicted him of shaking his 3-month-old daughter to death last fall.

Frederick Williams pleaded guilty in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on Monday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Sanajah Walton. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped a charge of murder that carried a life sentence.

Cincinnati police say Williams violently shook the girl Sept. 23 at his home. The baby was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, where she died two days later.

Ludlow man accused in fatal traffic crash

COVINGTON - A Ludlow man has been arrested in connection with a Saturday morning crash that killed one person and shut down the Brent Spence Bridge.

Geoffrey Mayberry, 33, is charged with two counts of first-degree assault, driving with a suspended license from a previous drunken-driving conviction and leaving the scene of an accident.

Mayberry was being held Monday night at the Kenton County jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bond.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11.

Covington police said additional charges could be filed.

Detectives said Mayberry fled the scene and was arrested at his home a short time later. The Interstate 71/75 bridge was closed for several hours Saturday morning as emergency crews cleared the four-car wreck.

Gentry Aubrey, 24, of Burlington, died at University Hospital about 12 hours after the crash, officials said.