Southern District of West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert Dale Eady, 56, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for enticing a minor to produce and transmit child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Eady was residing at a St. Albans halfway house in May 2021 when he began communicating with a 13-year-old minor who lived nearby. Eady had been placed at the facility to finish a 15-year prison sentence for his conviction for distribution of child pornography in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on May 19, 2010. Eady admitted that during a live video call on May 4, 2021, he enticed and persuaded the young boy to show his genitals. Eady further admitted that he showed his genitals to the boy during the live video call.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Prisons for conducting and assisting in the investigation.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:22-cr-63 and 2:21-cr-206.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Ashley Kawczynski, 32, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2022, Kawczynski possessed approximately 328 grams of methamphetamine, 164 grams of fentanyl and two firearms, a Ruger Model LCP Max .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Springfield model Hellcat 9mm semi-automatic pistol, at her Parkersburg residence. Kawczynski admitted that she intended to distribute the drugs to other people and that she possessed the firearms to protect herself, her drugs, and her drug proceeds.  Kawczynski further admitted to conspiring with others between February 2022 and July 5, 2022, to distribute fentanyl and to selling fentanyl on four occasions to a confidential informant between April and May 2022.        

Kawczynski is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of  10 years and up to life in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5,250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police.

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-160.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Melvin Theophilius Hill, 38, of Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 2, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hill near 13th Street and Ninth Avenue in Huntington. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded FN 509 9mm handgun in the passenger seat rear pocket. Hill admitted to possessing the firearm and placing it where officers found it during the search.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hill knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions in Boyd County, Kentucky, Circuit Court for second-degree robbery on May 9, 2008, and first-degree possession of a controlled substance on January 12, 2011.

Hill is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-134.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Trevor Dean Williams, 35, of Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 19, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to Williams’ Huntington residence after a home alarm system alerted 911. Officer observed suspected drug paraphernalia including a blender containing a powder substance, needles and torn plastic bags as well as ammunition and gun holsters in plain view in the residence. Officers obtained a search warrant for the residence and found three loaded firearms in Williams’ bedroom: a SCCY CPX-2 9mm pistol, a Glock 27 .40-caliber pistol, and a Hi-Point CF380 .380-caliber pistol.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Williams knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior felony convictions in Boyd County, Kentucky, Circuit Court for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, methamphetamine, on October 31, 2018, and second-degree assault on May 21, 2008.

Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-152.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jamie Vass, 45, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 7, 2022, Vass sold approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at her Beckley residence. Vass further admitted to selling approximately 47 grams of methamphetamine to the confidential informant at her residence on March 27, 2022.

On April 5, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Vass’ residence and found quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl as well as a Ruger LC 9mm pistol, a Lorcin L22 .22-caliber pistol and $827. Vass admitted to telling the officers that she had been selling approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine every four days and approximately 7 grams of fentanyl per week from December 2021 until her arrest on April 5, 2022.

Vass is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of  five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-115.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – James Pratt, 30, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 25, 2021, Pratt was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement officers in Beckley. Pratt possessed a Browning, model Hi-Power, 9mm pistol found by officers in the vehicle during the traffic stop.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Pratt knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions in Raleigh County Circuit Court for first-degree robbery on August 5, 2010, and child abuse resulting in injury on July 29, 2013.

Pratt is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-106.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – David William McConnell, 39, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from May 15, 2022, until May 30, 2022, McConnell used the Kik messaging app, exchanged text messages and communicated by phone with a woman he believed to be a single mother of 11-year-old and 13-year-old daughters in Beckley, West Virginia. During these conversations, McConnell expressed interest in engaging in sexual activity with the two minor females and teaching the woman to engage in sexual acts with her daughters.

McConnell admitted to telling the woman that he planned to travel from his Charlotte residence to a Beckley hotel to meet her and the two minor females on May 30, 2022. McConnell further admitted to telling the woman that he planned to shower with each of the minor children and engage in sexual acts with both of them. On May 30, 2022, McConnell was arrested in Beckley.

McConnell is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. McConnell must also register as a sex offender.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) West Virginia Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-124.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Kenneth Ogudu, also known as Kenneth Lee, 28, a citizen of Nigeria residing in Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to two years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ogudu was also ordered to pay $324,865.85 in restitution.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from May 2019 to October 8, 2020, Ogudu participated in a romance fraud scheme that defrauded more than 200 victims, many of them elderly, of at least $2.5 million. Ogudu was living in Huntington during part of this conspiracy, from May 2019 to December 2019. The scheme targeted individuals looking for romantic partners, friendship, and other close personal and business relationships on dating websites and other social media platforms. The conspirators created profiles using fictitious names, locations, and images that allowed Ogudu and other co-conspirators to contact victims and cultivate relationships with them. Induced into believing they were in a romantic relationship, friendship or business relationship with the false personas, the victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas.

Ogudu admitted that he allowed victims to transfer money to his bank account that he knew was from unlawful activity. Ogudu kept some of the money for himself and forwarded some of the money to his co-conspirators via wire transfers or Zelle. Ogudu admitted that he disguised the illegal nature of the money being transferred, adding another layer to the fraud and money laundering scheme. Ogudu further admitted that he and his co-conspirators transferred large sums of their fraud proceeds to offshore accounts. Ogudu obtained funds from at least 12 different fraud victims during the money laundering conspiracy.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), the West Virginia State Police, and the South Charleston Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Robeson and R. Gregory McVey prosecuted the case.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-68.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson announced today that sober living residences in the Southern District of West Virginia are a focus of the United States Attorney’s Health Care Fraud Task Force.

Sober homes can provide drug- and alcohol-free living environments crucial to promoting and sustaining long-term recovery from substance use disorder. But the potential for fraud has grown with the rise in treatment and recovery programs and facilities across the district.

“West Virginia needs quality treatment options as it continues to confront the crisis of addiction,” Thompson said. “We cannot tolerate criminal activity that prioritizes profit over the providing of effective treatment, given the deadly consequences that all too easily can result.”

Thompson announced the task force’s focus today during a health care fraud conference held by his office and the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. More than 50 law enforcement officers, public health officials and others received the latest information about fraud that impacts the cost of health care as well as the quality of care received by our most vulnerable citizens.

Nationally recognized experts detailed current trends and developments in such areas as prescription opioid investigations, health care fraud investigations and substance use disorder. These speakers explained how fraud can exploit every level of care for substance use disorder, from detox and residential treatment facilities to outpatient programs and recovery residences.

The United States Attorney’s Health Care Fraud Task Force brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement partners from numerous agencies to coordinate intelligence sharing and prosecution of health care fraud impacting Medicare, Medicaid, and other public health care programs.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Lewis Johnson, 49, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson admitted to selling approximately 6.7 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in South Charleston on February 4, 2022. Johnson further admitted to selling the confidential informant 13.4 grams of methamphetamine on February 14, 2022, and 12.4 grams of methamphetamine on February 24, 2022, both times in St. Albans.

Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 2, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-130.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson announced today that Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSA Goes has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of West Virginia, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” Thompson said. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).

“The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy,” Thompson said. “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Goes will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at (304) 340-2395 or (304) 345-2200.”

The Southern District of West Virginia also has an online option for reporting complaints: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/report-corruption. The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office through its Election Division offers a form for filing elections complaints as well: https://sos.wv.gov/media/424/electionscomplaintformpdf.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (304) 346-2300.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov.

“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate,” Thompson said. “It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

 A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Ivan Lee Burton, 47, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 3, 2022, Burton sold approximately 24 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Parkersburg. Burton admitted to conspiring with others to complete numerous drug transactions in the Parkersburg area between April 2022 and September 2022. Burton further admitted to using other individuals to sell drugs, including methamphetamine and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” during this time.

Burton is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force (PNTF).

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-190.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Lester Taylor Barnhouse, 43, of Craigsville, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 13, 2022, Barnhouse fled from law enforcement officers trying to arrest him. During the pursuit, Barnhouse hid a backpack under a waterfall in the woods near Nallen, Nicholas County. An officer following Barnhouse’s tracks in the snow found the backpack, which contained approximately 646.6 grams of methamphetamine, 129 grams of fentanyl, a loaded Taurus Millennium G2 pistol, and $6,740. Barnhouse admitted that he intended to sell the methamphetamine and fentanyl, and that the cash was proceeds from drug transactions.

Barnhouse is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department.

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney R. Gregory McVey is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-85.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Rowdy Lee Randolph, 39, of Leon, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 4, 2020, law enforcement officers searched Randolph’s property in Leon and seized six marijuana plants from his yard and approximately 1.5 pounds of marijuana from his residence. Randolph admitted to growing marijuana on his property and selling it for money.

Randolph is scheduled to be sentenced on January 24, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, two years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-150.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jamie Edward Smith, 35, of Montgomery, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 22, 2022, Smith sold approximately 18 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on Third Avenue in Montgomery for $350. Smith admitted to selling additional quantities of methamphetamine totaling approximately 51 grams to the confidential informant in Montgomery on two other occasions in February 2022. Smith further admitted to possessing a pistol and showing it to the confidential informant during one of the transactions.

Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on January 18, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and up to a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-195.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Pamela McDaniel, 68, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to alteration of a postal money order, and admitted she used her position at the Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority (CKHA) to obtain the money order and embezzle more than $28,000.

According to court documents and statements made in court, McDaniel had been employed by CKHA since 2006 and was serving as a housing manager in 2018. As a housing manager, McDaniel’s duties included collecting tenant rental payments and forwarding them to the CKHA accounts clerk. On January 10, 2018, McDaniel received a $235 postal money order from a CKHA tenant intended for rental payment. McDaniel admitted to adding her own name to the postal money order to make it appear as though McDaniel was the intended beneficiary of the payment. McDaniel deposited the postal money order into her personal checking account.

McDaniel further admitted that from 2007 to 2018, she used her position as a CKHA housing manager to embezzle $28,523.30. As part of this scheme, McDaniel altered money orders she received from tenants attempting to pay dues that they owed CKHA and deposited the altered money orders into her personal checking account. McDaniel offset some of the money she stole by repaying a portion of the embezzled funds.

McDaniel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 18, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. McDaniel agreed to pay $17,543.92 in restitution.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-157.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $75,596 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Southern District of West Virginia. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security (formerly the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety), is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.

Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.

“The grant award for the Southern District of West Virginia will further support enforcement-related efforts to reduce gun violence in Charleston, Huntington and Beckley,” said U.S. Attorney Thompson. “These projects embrace community outreach and prevention and intervention strategies to target violent crime in these communities.”

“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”

PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.

“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”

The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law.  More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Melissa Waller, 45, of St. Albans, was ordered today to pay $84,509 in restitution and sentenced to probation for five years, with the first year to be served on home detention, for theft of government benefits.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from June 2012 to April 2020, Waller received $84,509 in Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits on behalf of a deceased relative. Waller admitted that she did not have a legal right to these benefits once her relative died in April 2012. Waller further admitted that she converted the funds to her own use, and that she knew her conduct in taking those benefits was wrong.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the SSA and the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-89.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Austin Joseph Griffith, 22, of Hernshaw, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more or methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 13, 2021, Griffith sold approximately 560 grams of methamphetamine for $4,000 to a confidential informant at his Hernshaw residence.

Griffith is scheduled to be sentenced on February 2, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

United States District Judge Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-147.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – William S. Thompson was formally sworn in today as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, and he pledged to continue the office’s mission of promoting justice and fighting crime throughout the district.

“My focus is on making our communities safer and more secure, and to hold people accountable for their actions,” Thompson told the members of the federal judiciary, distinguished guests, family and other well-wishers at his investiture ceremony.

Thompson affirmed his commitment to targeting the mid- and upper-level distributors of illegal drugs while supporting and working with recovery and prevention groups. Thompson noted that the epidemic of fatal drug overdoses remains all too real in the district: the latest casualties include a former baseball teammate of his son who died the previous evening.

“A priority of this office is to go after the drugs that are actually killing our communities, such as fentanyl, other opiates and meth,” Thompson said. “This is where a lot of the violence in our communities is actually coming from.”

Combating white-collar crime is also a priority, as the U.S. Attorney’s Office is best equipped to tackle such cases, Thompson said. He cited the office’s recent successful prosecution of foreign nationals, internet-based romance fraud schemes, and COVID-19 relief fraud.

As United States Attorney, Thompson is the chief law enforcement officer in the southern half of the state. Thompson leads an office of 34 attorneys and 41 non-attorney personnel located in offices in Charleston, Huntington, and Beckley. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States. 

Thompson praised the ability and professionalism of the people in his office, citing their achievement in the past year. Thompson noted that after taking the helm, he assigned training duties to three of the office’s attorneys and had a fourth detailed to the January 6 prosecutions.

“I fully expected our caseload numbers to take a significant hit this year as a result, and I was going to be okay with that,” Thompson said. “However, the opposite was true. Our number of cases filed in my first year actually rose 48 percent, while nationwide cases in U.S. Attorney Offices went down by over 9 percent.”

Thompson recalled that he was approached about serving as U.S. Attorney on January 6, 2021, and explained that the events that day “solidified my resolve to be the best United States Attorney I could be.” Alongside drugs and white-collar crime, domestic terrorism is also a top priority of his office, Thompson said.

“Fortunately, this district has not been touched by this significantly yet, but that is a phone call I dread every day,” Thompson said.

United States Senator Joe Manchin spoke during the ceremony and hailed the selection of Thompson as U.S. Attorney.

“Today, we had the honor of celebrating Will Thompson’s dedication to the great state of West Virginia and the rule of law,” Manchin said. “Will’s work speaks for itself, and I’m pleased to be able to celebrate my friend today at his investiture ceremony. Congratulations to Will and Keri on this new endeavor and thank you for your continued service to the Mountain State.”

United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito also lauded Thompson’s selection.

“U.S. Attorney Thompson’s professional experience make him uniquely qualified to serve West Virginians in this capacity,” said Capito. “He has shown great leadership and professionalism throughout his career, and I am confident in his ability to uphold the rule of law and protect our communities here at home. I congratulate U.S. Attorney Thompson on his investiture today, and know he will continue to serve West Virginia honorably.”

Thompson was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., on August 10, 2021. The United States Senate confirmed Thompson by voice vote on October 5, 2021. Today’s ceremony follows a private swearing-in conducted on October 13, 2021.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert Owen Johnson, 55, of Procious, pleaded guilty today to distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 20, 2021, Johnson used Facebook and his cell phone to distribute a video of child pornography to another Facebook user during a conversation. Johnson further admitted that between 2020 and 2021, he used this Facebook account to chat with individuals and to possess and distribute child pornography. 

Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of  five years and up to 20 years in prison, five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Johnson must also register as a sex offender.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott is prosecuting the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-155.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Colin Webb, 33, of Charleston, was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 5 or more grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 13, 2020, Webb sold approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $760 in a Kanawha City parking lot. Webb admitted that he sold more than 150 grams of methamphetamine to confidential informants in a series of four controlled buys between February 13, 2020, and July 28, 2020. Webb further admitted that a large-scale drug trafficking organization supplied him with the methamphetamine over a series of years.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-53.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Larry Arthur King, 39, of Texarkana, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 19, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop along U.S. Route 119 in South Charleston of a vehicle in which King was a passenger. King admitted to possessing approximately 690 grams of methamphetamine found in his backpack, and that he intended to distribute that methamphetamine. Later that day, officers executed a search warrant at the Charleston hotel room where King was staying. King admitted to possessing approximately 446 grams of methamphetamine, more than 160 grams of fentanyl, a quantity of cocaine, and two pistols found during the search.

King has a long criminal history among four states that includes 17 criminal convictions. Five of those prior convictions were for felony offenses, including controlled substances crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the West Virginia State Police.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-121.

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Investiture Ceremony for United States Attorney William S. Thompson

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The investiture ceremony for William S. Thompson, United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 2 p.m. Thompson will be joined by United States Senator Joseph Manchin III, members of the federal judiciary, distinguished guests, and family to celebrate his appointment. He will also express his visions and goals for the Southern District of West Virginia and stress the importance of serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District.

This is the formal, public swearing-in ceremony for Thompson, who was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on August 10, 2021. The United States Senate confirmed Thompson by voice vote on October 5, 2021.

WHAT: Investiture Ceremony for William S. Thompson as United States Attorney, Southern District of West Virginia

WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Seventh Floor Ceremonial Courtroom, Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse,  300 Virginia Street, East, Charleston

NOTE: All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (Such as a driver’s license) and valid media credentials. Media may begin arriving at 1 p.m. and must have cameras set by 1:30 p.m. Media should RSVP to USAWVS.Ceremony@usdoj.gov.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Akale Jamel Green, 54, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 15, 2020, Green sold approximately 1.42 grams of heroin to a confidential informant while parked at a Hurricane shopping plaza. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory confirmed the controlled substance contained heroin and fentanyl.

Green further admitted to aiding and abetting the sale of approximately 1 gram of heroin and fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Hurricane residence on June 9, 2020, and to selling approximately 1.33 grams of heroin and fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington on June 23, 2020. On July 22, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Doulton Avenue residence in Huntington and found a quantity of a heroin and fentanyl mixture and digital scales. Green admitted to possessing the heroin and fentanyl mixture and that he intended to distribute it.

Green is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the DEA and the West Virginia State Police Ona Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-100.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kevin Gerard Denson, 36, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 30, 2022, law enforcement officers were dispatched to Leon Sullivan Way in Charleston in response to a report of shots fired. Officers encountered Denson exiting a vehicle in an alley near Jet Life Apparel. Officers found two firearms in the vehicle, a Dickinson, model XXPA, 12-gauge shotgun and a Smith & Wesson, model M&P 15, 5.56-caliber rifle. Both firearms were loaded with high-capacity drum magazines.

Officers also found a bullet hole at the entrance to Jet Life Apparel, and obtained a search warrant for the store’s video surveillance system. The footage showed Denson carrying the two firearms and Jonathan Kennedy, 41, of St. Albans, running across the store while holding the shotgun following an apparent altercation outside.  

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Denson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of cocaine in Kanawha Circuit Court on June 12, 2013.

Denson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The video surveillance footage showed Kennedy and Denson possessed the firearms after a vehicle stopped in front of Jet Life Apparel and its driver fired a pistol in the direction of the store following an apparent verbal argument. Officers recovered a spent 9mm casing from the street near where the pistol was fired from the vehicle.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on October 4, 2022.

Jamon L. Woodson, 39, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition as the alleged driver of the vehicle. The indictment alleges Woodson possessed 9mm ammunition on June 30, 2022, and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing ammunition because of his felony conviction for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana in United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia on January 7, 2011. Woodson was arraigned on the indictment on September 29, 2022, and his trial is scheduled for November 15, 2022. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-145.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Raymond Jaquette Howard, 34, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Howard admitted to selling approximately 1.01 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Huntington motel on September 22, 2021. On November 16, 2021, law enforcement officer’s searched Howard’s motel room and found approximately 4.6 pounds of fentanyl and a loaded Glock 43x pistol hidden in the ceiling. Howard admitted that he intended to sell the fentanyl.

Howard further admitted to directing co-defendant David Anthony Wellman, 38, of Huntington, to sell quantities of fentanyl between September 2021 and December 2021. Wellman pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl on September 28, 2022.

On December 24, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Howard was a passenger. Officers searched the vehicle and found approximately 399.6 grams of fentanyl in a backpack. Howard admitted that he intended to sell the fentanyl or direct others to sell the fentanyl on his behalf.

Howard is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of  10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine.

“This case resulted in the seizure of a massive amount of fentanyl and removed an out-of-state supplier of this poison from our streets,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, and the West Virginia State Police.”

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-102.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Shawn Anthony Graves, 29, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 7, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a 14th Street residence and found approximately 15.4 grams of crack and 4.5 grams of cocaine. Graves admitted that he possessed and intended to distribute the crack and cocaine located inside the 14th Street residence.

Graves further admitted to selling quantities of crack at the 14th Street residence on September 26, 2019 and October 28, 2019, each time to a confidential informant.

Graves is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

Officers also found three loaded firearms during the November 7, 2019 search of the 14th Street residence: an Eagle Arms AR15 .223-caliber rifle; a Springfield XDS 9mm pistol; and a Taurus Judge Public Defender, .45/.410-caliber pistol. Co-defendant Marshall Lee Graves II, 38, of Huntington, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm on August 24, 2022.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, and the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-181.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Maylik Watson, 29, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 6, 2020, Watson sold approximately 174.9 grams of  methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Charleston for $5,600.

Watson and 11 other individuals have pleaded guilty to charges arising from a long-term investigation dubbed the “Woo Boyz.” The investigation targeted a drug trafficking organization (DTO) with ties to the Bloods and Gangster Disciples criminal gangs that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in the Charleston area from July 2020 until February 2021.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the West Virginia State Police, and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman prosecuted the case.

The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-32.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A North Carolina business owner pleaded guilty to lying to the United States Department of Agriculture regarding the Nicholas County coal he pledged as collateral for a $9 million USDA-backed business loan.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Michael James Peters, 42, of Concord, North Carolina, was part owner, president, and operator of Taylor Rose Energy (TRE). On July 24, 2014, TRE obtained a $9,065,165 loan from a Georgia bank to buy out investors’ interest in approximately 146,954 tons of cannel coal in Dixie, Nicholas County. In support of the loan, TRE represented that it intended to convert the coal into “smokeless” coal briquettes for consumer coal-burning home heating systems in Ireland. The USDA Rural Development Business and Industry loan program guaranteed 90 percent of the loan.

By January 2015, Peters owed more than $1.3 million to the owner and operator of another coal company, Aces High Coal Sales Inc. of London, Kentucky. From February 2015 to April 2015, Peters allowed Aces High to remove more than 80,000 tons of the collateralized coal from the Dixie site to settle this debt. Peters was unable to repay the USDA-backed loan, and did not inform the Georgia bank that coal pledged as the loan’s collateral was being taken to address the debt to Aces High.

Peters told the Georgia bank that 90 percent of the coal was “missing” from the Dixie site. On May 8, 2015, representatives from the bank and the USDA visited the Dixie site to investigate the removal of the collateralized coal. Peters falsely told USDA and bank representatives that Aces High had removed the coal from the site without his permission. At the plea hearing, Peters admitted that he lied to the USDA representative during this site visit in order to redirect the focus of the investigation away from his own conduct.

Peters pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture. Peters is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Peters also agreed to pay $1,375,000 in restitution.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-159.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Henderson, 34, of Michigan, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 3, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Henderson was a passenger in downtown Charleston. During the traffic stop, a police K-9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances in a duffel bag belonging to Henderson. Officers searched the bag and found approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine.

Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 26, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a $20 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-65.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Flaviano Mateos-Hernandez, 45, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty today to reentry of a removed alien and was remanded to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 7, 2022, ICE agents arrested Mateos-Hernandez in Pineville after identifying him in the course of an investigation. Mateos-Hernandez admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico in the United States illegally and that he had been previously deported from the United States. Mateos-Hernandez had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States.

Fingerprints matched Mateos-Hernandez to a prior administrative removal from the United States, which followed his arrest in West Virginia on June 7, 2016. While in West Virginia, Mateos-Hernandez was twice convicted of misdemeanor DUI in Wyoming County Magistrate Court on May 14, 2015, and April 10, 2016. Mateos-Hernandez also twice agreed to voluntarily return to Mexico following arrests in California on August 15, 2002, and Arizona on April 15, 2009. Mateos-Hernandez never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States, nor did he seek to reenter through other legal means.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing, sentencing Mateos-Hernandez to the time he has served in custody since his June 7, 2022 arrest before remanding him to ICE custody. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-128.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Travis John Miller, 39, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller admitted to selling approximately 26.94 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at his Beckley residence on October 19, 2021. Miller further admitted to selling quantities of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on October 20 and October 27, 2021.

On October 29, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Miller’s residence and found methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and a Hi-Point .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on January 27, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of  five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-107.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Norman Leon Geipe II, 39, pleaded guilty today to resisting a federal officer causing bodily injury.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 14, 2021, deputy U.S. Marshals approached Geipe outside a Parkersburg homeless shelter and told Geipe they had an arrest warrant alleging he had failed to register as a sex offender. Geipe physically resisted the attempt to take him into custody and bit the left forearm of one of the deputy U.S. Marshals, breaking the skin and drawing blood.

Giepe is scheduled to be sentenced on January 26, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service and the Parkersburg Police Department.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Troy D. Adams and Joseph F. Adams are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-98.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Justice Department announced the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the Department and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims. Today, the Department also announced it is expanding its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to amplify efforts to combat scams originating overseas.

“We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”

“Our seniors and their loved ones should never hesitate to seek help from law enforcement when they encounter elder fraud,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Education and prevention are crucial as we combat this form of exploitation. But when fraud strikes, we are determined to bring these criminals to justice and recover losses for victims.”

During the period from September 2021 to September 2022, Department personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged.

This past year, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia secured convictions against nine individuals on charges arising from romance and other online scams that coerced seniors and other vulnerable victims into sending money to scheme participants. Five of these individuals pleaded guilty in connection with a romance fraud scheme that defrauded more than 200 victims, many of them elderly, of at least $2.5 million.

As part of the Southern District of West Virginia’s elder fraud efforts, it engages in outreach to the community and industry to raise awareness about scams and exploitation and preventing victimization. It presented a public messaging campaign in conjunction with the observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: https://youtu.be/Av6XWosOCpU. U.S. Attorney Thompson participated in a virtual town hall focused on elder fraud education and prevention hosted by AARP of West Virginia on September 27, 2022.

The Department also highlighted three other efforts: expansion of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, success in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams. 

The Department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.

In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 150,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $52 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.

Over the past year, the Department pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money. When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams “heartbreakingly evil.” The Department is working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes.

Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.

Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Kennedy, 41, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 30, 2022, law enforcement officers were dispatched to Leon Sullivan Way in Charleston in response to a report of shots fired. Officers found a bullet hole at the entrance of Jet Life Apparel and obtained a search warrant for the store’s video surveillance system, which showed two firearms inside the store: a Dickinson, model XXPA, 12-gauge shotgun; and a Smith & Wesson, model M&P 15, 5.56-caliber rifle. The video surveillance footage also showed Kennedy running across the store while holding the shotgun following an apparent altercation outside.

Officers recovered both firearms from a vehicle in an alley near Jet Life Apparel. Each firearm was loaded with a high-capacity drum magazine.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Kennedy knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony convictions for interstate travel in aid of drug trafficking and use of a communication facility in furtherance of an unlawful act in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 3, 2014.

Kennedy is scheduled to be sentenced on January 25, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-145.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson, along with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and other law enforcement officials will hold a press conference at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2022, to announce the final sentencing for the key defendants in a successful drug trafficking organization (DTO) prosecution.

WHERE: Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse, 300 Virginia St. East, Charleston, WV 25301.

WHEN: Monday, October 3, 2022, at 3:30 p.m.

 A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Samuel Manriquez, 37, of Cross Lanes, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 17, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Charleston residence where Manriquez was hiding to evade arrest. Manriquez refused to surrender, and after several hours was removed from a crawl space beneath the residence’s basement floor. Officers found two bags of fentanyl totaling approximately 6.3 grams and $1,620 in Manriquez’s left pants pocket. Manriquez admitted that he intended to distribute some of the fentanyl found on his person.

On January 8, 2021, law enforcement officers responded to a 911 hang-up call at Manriquez’s residence. Manriquez admitted that he struck a female guest in the side of her head with his fist during an argument and then left the residence before officers arrived. The officers executed a search warrant at Manriquez’s residence and found a Walther HK MP5 .22-caliber rifle, a Ruger .22-caliber pistol, parts to a Hi-Point .45-caliber pistol, $4,680 and drug paraphernalia including a scale and aluminum foil with a white powder residue.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Manriquez was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his felony convictions for distribution of U-47700, an opioid, and distribution of U-47700 and furanyl fentanyl in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November 1, 2019.

Manriquez is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Julie White is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-176.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Leo Antoine Smith, 38, of Cross Lanes, was sentenced today to 11 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.

Smith is the final major defendant to be sentenced in connection with an investigation that dismantled a large-volume drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated primarily in the Charleston, Rand, and St. Albans areas of Kanawha County from March 2019 to September 2021. The DTO distributed more than 160 pounds of methamphetamine as well as quantities of fentanyl and other drugs. The investigation also thwarted a plan by four of the defendants to murder an individual on Charleston’s West Side on July 4, 2021.

“These defendants threatened our communities with their poison as well as gun violence,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “The amount of methamphetamine trafficked from Kentucky, Georgia, and Ohio is staggering. This investigation and prosecution wiped out all connections between the DTO’s suppliers and the Southern District of West Virginia.”

The investigation culminated in the seizure of more than 12.3 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 34 firearms, more than $86,000 in cash, and several vehicles including three motorcycles. All 17 individuals indicted have been convicted.

“Today’s sentencing is the culmination of the tireless effort by FBI Pittsburgh and our law enforcement partners,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “The FBI will relentlessly pursue the leadership of drug trafficking organizations and dismantle them. Mr. Smith and the rest of the defendants in this case will face the consequences for trafficking the drugs that fuel violence in the Charleston area.”

The investigation also prevented a fatal drug overdose in St. Albans and several violent incidents including the Fourth of July 2021 plot. In that incident, four of the defendants - Treydan Leon Burks, Brian Dangelo Terry, James Edward Bennett III, and Douglas Johnathan Wesley - armed themselves in Rand and drove to Charleston to commit a drive-by shooting murder. Alerted to the plot, police in marked cruisers converged on the area. The four men abandoned their vehicle in a Lee Street parking lot due to the increased police presence. Federal agents executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered four loaded firearms: a Spike’s Tactical, Model SL15, .223-caliber pistol; an FNH, Model FNS-9, 9mm pistol; a Taurus, Model G2C, 9mm pistol; and a Sig Sauer, Model SP2022, .40-caliber pistol.

“Too often, Charleston and the surrounding communities feel the impact of illegal drug distribution and the violence associated with it,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “I hope the message is clear today: ATF, the FBI, and our law enforcement partners will not let drug dealers take hold of our neighborhoods. We are committed to making our communities safe, and to holding criminals accountable for violence and drug trafficking that destroys our families.”

“The success of this investigation is a testament to the outstanding work and effective coordination of the FBI, the ATF, the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the United States Marshals Service, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office,” Thompson said. “I also commend Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Hanks and Alex Hamner for securing convictions against all of the defendants, including at trials where juries found Smith and two other defendants guilty on all counts against them.”

MDENT includes the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Charleston, Nitro, South Charleston and St. Albans police departments.

A federal jury found Smith guilty after a two-day trial on May 26, 2022. Evidence at trial established that Smith distributed methamphetamine around Charleston between the fall of 2020 and September 21, 2021. On at least one occasion in early 2021, Smith traveled with co-defendant Terry to Atlanta to purchase methamphetamine from another co-defendant, Ramon David Alston. Trial testimony, wiretap evidence, and text messages obtained from Smith’s cellphones revealed that he distributed more than 60 ounces of methamphetamine.

The other major defendants were sentenced to the following prison terms following their convictions on felony offenses:

• Timothy Wayne Dodd, 46, of South Charleston, to 21 years and seven months for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine;
• Shane Kelly Fulkerson, 45, of Charleston, to 19 years and seven months for two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
• Ramon David Alston, 42, of Decatur, Georgia, to 12 years and six months for conspiracy to distribute 500 or more grams of methamphetamine;
• James Edward Bennett III, 31, of Charleston, to 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
• Jason Robert Oxley, 39, of St. Albans, to 10 years for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm;
• Brian Dangelo Terry, 37, of Charleston, to 10 years for conspiracy to distribute 500 or more grams of methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
• Douglas Johnathan Wesley, 33, of Charleston, to 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
• Jonathan Gregory Bush, 39, of Dunbar, to eight years and one month for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Scott Edward Hudson, 50, of St. Albans, to seven years for intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm;
• Treydan Leon Burks, 32, of Charleston, to seven years for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine;
• Angie Lane Harbour, 41, of Given, to three years and 10 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine;
• Michael Antonio Smith, 50, of Charleston, to two years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences.

The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-171, 2:21-cr-172, 2:21-cr-211, and 2:22-cr-90.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Krystle Elaine Cresce, 33, of Glen Morgan,  Raleigh County, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 8, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Beckley hotel room where Cresce was staying and found quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin.  Law enforcement officers also found $917, and three firearms: a SCCY, Model CPX-2 9mm semi-automatic pistol; a Springfield Armory, Model 911, 9mm semi-automatic pistol; and a Mossburg, Model 500, 12-gauge shotgun.

Officers encountered Cresce’s co-defendant in the hallway near Cresce’s hotel room and seized approximately 64 grams of heroin, 54 grams of methamphetamine and more than $2,850 in cash from the co-defendant. Cresce admitted that she worked with and assisted her co-defendant in the possession and distribution of the heroin and methamphetamine.

Cresce is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Alex Hamner prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-265.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Sean Hafesh, 33, of Daniels, Raleigh County, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 6, 2021, Hafesh sold approximately 3.7 grams of suspected heroin to a confidential informant at a residence in Daniels, West Virginia. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed the controlled substance was fentanyl.

Hafesh further admitted to selling additional quantities of suspected heroin to confidential informants on October 5, 2021, and October 12, 2021. The following day, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence and found 355 grams of suspected heroin, 24.5 grams of methamphetamine, a revolver, and a bolt-action rifle belonging to Hafesh. The suspected heroin from the controlled buys and the search was later determined to contain fentanyl.

On October 21, 2021, Hafesh was stopped by a law enforcement officer who seized 36 grams of heroin and $1,460 in cash from Hafesh’s person and vehicle. On April 7, 2022, law enforcement officers again executed a search warrant at a residence in Beaver and found 56 grams of suspected heroin, 33 grams of methamphetamine, 62 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” $1,042 in cash and several firearms.  The suspected heroin found during the search was later determined to contain fentanyl. Hafesh further admitted to telling officers on the day of that search that he had been selling a significant amount of suspected heroin during the previous several months.

Hafesh is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, and the West Virginia State Police.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell and former Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-68.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kamaria J. Mitchell, 33, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Mitchell admitted to selling more than 5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant outside of her residence on November 16, 2020.  The methamphetamine was tested DEA Laboratory and confirmed to weigh 27.9 grams and was 98% pure.

Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2023 and faces a mandatory minimum of  five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which is composed of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Beckley Police Department, and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-49.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jamal Johnson, 32, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 20, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence and found approximately 832 grams of heroin, 178 grams of methamphetamine, and three firearms: a Colt, model Army Special, .38-caliber revolver; an Eagle Arms, model Eagle-15, multi-caliber rifle; and a Romarm/Cugir, model WASR-10, 7.62 caliber rifle.

Johnson admitted to possessing and intending to sell the heroin and methamphetamine, and to possessing the firearms. At the time of this offense, Johnson was serving a term of supervised release for his conviction for distribution of cocaine in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on October 27, 2015.

Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2023 and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison as well as at least four years of supervised release and a $5 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Isabell and Alex Hamner are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-13.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jotesa Ruth Porter, 33, of Kenova, pleaded guilty today to making false statements in the acquisition of firearms and disposing of firearms to a person convicted of a felony.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 30, 2020, Porter straw purchased four firearms at a Huntington pawn shop: a Rock Island M1-1911 FS, .45-caliber pistol; a Taurus 1911, .45-caliber pistol; an Anderson AM-15, multi-caliber rifle; and a Spikes ST-15, .300-caliber rifle. Porter admitted to lying on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 for the purchase. Porter falsely certified that she was the buyer of the firearms when she knew she was purchasing them for someone else.

Porter admitted that she provided the firearms to Corey Michael Perkins, 33, of Huntington. Perkins had picked out the firearms in advance, directed Porter to purchase them, provided her with the necessary money, and induced her to falsify the ATF form. Perkins knew he could not purchase the firearms himself because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Cabell County Circuit Court on January 10, 2013. Perkins was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for aiding and abetting the illegal straw purchase of firearms on August 22, 2022.

Porter is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the ATF and the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-55.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – David Anthony Wellman, 38, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 7, 2021, Wellman sold approximately 4.8 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in a parking lot off of U.S. Route 60 in Huntington. Wellman admitted to selling the fentanyl and to possessing an additional 15.2 grams of fentanyl during the transaction that he also intended to sell.

Wellman is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the West Virginia State Police.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-102.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Virgil Montell-Denzel Watkins, 29, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Watkins admitted to selling approximately one ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a Marcum Terrace apartment in Huntington on February 3, 2022. Watkins further admitted to selling an additional 6 ounces of methamphetamine to the informant between February 17 to April 18, 2022.

On April 22, 2022, law enforcement officers arrested Watkins and executed a search warrant at the Marcum Terrace apartment. Watkins admitted that the officers found a Glock, Model 30, .45-caliber pistol and approximately 10 grams of fentanyl during the search.

Watkins is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of five to 40 years in prison as well as up to four years of supervised release and a $5 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-74.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is co-sponsoring “Building Bridges: West Virginia Civil and Human Rights Summit” with the City of Charleston on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. West Virginia State University is hosting the event.

The summit begins at 9 a.m. with opening remarks from U.S. Attorney Thompson, Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin and West Virginia State University President Dr. Ericke Cage. The morning will also feature recorded remarks by U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke and an overview of federal hate crime enforcement actions. Afternoon sessions will cover breaking down barriers created by racial bias, civil rights and people with disabilities, civil rights and domestic terrorism, human rights and fair housing, and deprivation of rights under color of law violations.

The summit is sponsored in partnership with: the Charleston Police Department; Disability Rights of West Virginia; Fairness West Virginia; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Islamic Association of West Virginia; Legal Aid of West Virginia; the West Virginia NAACP; Temple Israel WV; the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development; the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence; the West Virginia Council of Churches; the West Virginia Department of Education; the West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council; the West Virginia Human Rights Commission; the West Virginia State Police; and YWCA Charleston.

WHAT: Building Bridges: West Virginia Civil and Human Rights Summit

WHEN: Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

WHERE: West Virginia State University, Institute; P. Ahmed Williams Auditorium, Ferrell Hall, and James C. Wilson University Union.

 A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Melissa Sue Hall, 46, of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced today to five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release with the first five months on home detention with electronic monitoring, for theft of federal funds. Hall was also ordered to pay $49,478.64 in restitution.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from September 2017 until January 8, 2021, Hall was the finance director of Huntington Tri-State Airport and responsible for the accounting, depositing and withdrawing of funds from multiple revenue sources including ATMs and vending machines. Hall admitted that between May 2020 and January 8, 2021, she stopped depositing the full amounts she collected from these machines into the airport’s bank accounts. Hall further admitted that she took money from those bank accounts intended for deposit in the ATMs. During this time period, Tri-State Airport received at least $10,000 per year in federal funding, which was deposited in its bank accounts. Hall admitted to diverting nearly $49,500.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Huntington Tri-State Airport Police and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-54.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The AARP of West Virginia hosted a town hall today so that its members could learn more about trends in elder fraud from the state's top federal law enforcement officials.

United States Attorneys Will Thompson and William Ihlenfeld shared their insight on the latest scams with hundreds of citizens during a conference call this morning. Each explained the efforts that they are undertaking to protect seniors and discussed notable cases they have prosecuted.

“This is a subject where the more education we can provide to our citizens, the better,” said U.S. Attorney Thompson. “These criminals are very, very good at what they do. They have the social engineering skills and know how to wreak havoc with people. There should be no embarrassment when you need to report these crimes and time is of the essence, particularly when you’re dealing with internet-based fraud. If you do feel that you are a victim, reach out to someone in law enforcement quickly so we can possibly get your money back.”

“Con artists continue to prey upon older West Virginians but the good news is that these crimes are preventable,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Seniors can protect themselves and their savings by being careful with whom they interact on the Internet, being skeptical of strangers who ask for money, and being cautious when providing a power of attorney.”

Victims over the age of 60 lost $1.7 billion to fraud in 2021, according to the FBI. Romance scams topped the list of crimes causing the greatest loss, followed by email compromise, investment schemes, and fake tech support calls.

For more information about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from elder fraud, go to https://justice.gov/elderjustice.

 A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – James Gipson, 59, was sentenced today to 11 years and two months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime on supervised release, for possession of child pornography and a violation of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 25, 2020, Gipson was living in a Charleston homeless facility when facility staff observed him in a common area looking at child pornography on his laptop. The staff summoned police, who recovered the laptop. A forensic analysis found more than 300 images depicting child pornography on the laptop. Gipson admitted that the laptop was his and that he knew he should not have possessed it.

Gipson was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. On March 5, 2012, he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison and placed on lifetime supervised release. Today’s sentence of 11 years and two months incudes one year and two months for violating his lifetime supervised release.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Thompson also credited the shelter staff for their vigilance in protecting their facility and its residents.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-92.

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