The alleged kingpin of a multi-million-dollar cocaine ring who eluded authorities for nearly a year was arraigned on drug charges Tuesday in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

Vernon Scott, 39, formerly of 284 Stambaugh Ave. in Sharon and also of Youngstown, was arraigned before Judge Thomas R. Dobson on charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, delivery of cocaine and criminal conspiracy.

Scott was returned to Mercer County Jail after the arraignment; he has been held there on $100,000 bond since his extradition from Ohio in April.

Scott's trial has been scheduled for August.

The state Office of the Attorney General issued a warrant for Scott's arrest in December 2000, accusing him of leading a cocaine ring in Mercer County and three other northwestern Pennsylvania counties.

Scott allegedly transported between 10 and 20 kilograms of cocaine -- or between 22 and 88 pounds -- from New York City to the region. The drug ring's sales allegedly generated more than $4 million over four years.

While most members of the cocaine ring were rounded up in a single day, Scott got away. He was nabbed in a Mahoning County Drug Task Force sting operation at a Youngstown home last November.