Southern District of West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of ammunition and for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Dana Stevenson, 31, illegally possessed 9mm caliber ammunition on July 5, 2021. The ammunition was recovered at the scene of a daytime shooting at Central and Glenwood avenues on Charleston’s West Side.

Approximately five weeks after this incident, on August 12, 2021, South Charleston Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Stevenson, who fled at a high rate of speed. Stevenson was eventually apprehended and officers recovered approximately 38 grams of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia from the vehicle. The quantity of fentanyl and the presence of certain paraphernalia established that Stevenson intended to distribute the drug.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Stevenson knew he was prohibited from possessing ammunition because of his 2018 federal felony convictions in the Southern District of West Virginia for the distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nowles Heinrich and Stephanie S. Taylor prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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-161.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to a role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana in Parkersburg and elsewhere.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Robert Sanders, Jr., 30, of Ashland, Kentucky, admitted to supplying Matthew Edward Depew and Carlo Ramsey with methamphetamine that was then re-distributed by Depew and Ramsey in the Parkersburg area between June and September 2021. Depew previously admitted to acquiring several pounds of methamphetamine on consignment from Sanders and distributing it to third-party customers.

Sanders pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2022, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison as well as least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine.

Depew, Carlo Ramsey, Floyd Dermonta Ramsey, Era Dawn Corder, and Ambera Roberts previously pleaded guilty to felony charges in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, as a result of a nearly year-long investigation dubbed “Long Time Coming.” All defendants are awaiting sentencing. The investigation also resulted in more than a dozen arrests on state criminal complaints in Wood County.

United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force (PNTF), the Parkersburg Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Vienna Police Department, the Williamstown Police Department, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Boyd County, Kentucky, Sheriff’s Department, the Russell, Kentucky, Police Department and the Raceland, Kentucky, Police Department.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.

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-163.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man was sentenced today to two and one-half years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for the distribution of heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Eric Mashawn McNeely, Jr., 30, sold approximately 2.97 grams of heroin with the presence of fentanyl during a controlled buy in Huntington on February 28, 2019.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police 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. 3:21-cr-00122.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man was sentenced today to six years and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Augustus Darryl Jones, Jr., 30, arranged to distribute methamphetamine to a confidential informant on November 10, 2021, in Huntington. The West Virginia State Police pulled Jones over while he was driving to make the drug transaction and seized 460 grams of methamphetamine from his vehicle.  Jones admitted he possessed and intended to distribute the methamphetamine to the informant.

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

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams 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. 3:21-cr-242.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Bobby James Mitchell, 41, admitted that a Hurricane Police officer found 499 pills containing approximately 54 grams of fentanyl in Mitchell’s vehicle during a December 11, 2021, traffic stop on Interstate 64 in Hurricane. Mitchell admitted he intended to sell the fentanyl.

Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022, 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 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Hurricane Police Department for conducting the investigation.

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-71.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After two days of trial, a federal jury convicted a Boone County man today of attempting to damage the property of an energy facility, identified as a known mine located across Boone and Lincoln counties.

Evidence at trial revealed Brandon Beverly, 46, of Whitesville, helped to steal specialized mine equipment from the known mine in May and June 2019, resulting in more than $5,000 in damage.

Beverly is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

“I commend the West Virginia State Police and Lt. A.S. Perdue as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their work on this case,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I also applaud Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Robeson and Nowles Heinrich and the trial team for securing a guilty verdict. There is an extensive history of such wrongdoing in the Southern District, and this prosecution shows it won’t be tolerated. These crimes harm not just these facilities but the people who work at them.”

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the jury trial.

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-260.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayette County man was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Anthony Maurice Bell, 55, of Oak Hill, possessed more than 400 grams of a substance containing fentanyl and a firearm in Oak Hill on January 26, 2021.  Bell admitted that he intended to sell the fentanyl.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Oak Hill Police Department, and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller 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. 2:21-cr-16.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to distribution of 5 or more grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Colin Webb, 32, admitted that he sold approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $760 in a Kanawha City parking lot on February 13, 2020.

Webb is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21, 2022, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 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 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani 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-53.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginians can rid their homes of unneeded medications, a simple yet effective step in the fight against substance use disorders, during the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) organizes this national event, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is a ready partner. More than 70 sites across the Mountain State will offer a safe, convenient, and anonymous way to dispose of old, unwanted and unneeded medications that are susceptible to misuse.

“This is an easy measure to prevent the abuse of medication and cut off a potential gateway to addiction, “ said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “We know that a majority of opioid use disorders in West Virginia and nationwide start with prescription pills found at home.”

U.S. drug overdose deaths are up 16 percent in the last year, claiming more than 290 lives every day.  According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, more than 106,000 people died as the result of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending November 2021, marking the most drug-related deaths ever recorded, with opioid-related deaths accounting for 75 percent of all overdose deaths.

A nationwide surge in fake prescription pills, made and marketed by criminal drug networks, is driving harm, violence, and overdoses. Fake pills, marketed as legitimate prescription pills to deceive the American public, are easy to purchase and widely available. Many counterfeit pills are made to look like prescription opioids. Fentanyl is commonly found in counterfeit pills, and is the primary driver in the alarming increase in overdose deaths.

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, DEA and its law enforcement partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illicit drugs will not be accepted. DEA will accept vaping devices and cartridges provided lithium batteries are removed.

A location finder and partner toolbox are available at http://www.DEATakeBack.com for easy reference to nearby collection sites. Beyond DEA’s Take Back Day, there are also opportunities to regularly and safely dispose of unneeded medications at more than 13,000 pharmacies, hospitals, police departments, and businesses working to help clean out medicine cabinets throughout the year.

DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting. Working in close partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 7,600 tons of medication from circulation since its inception. These efforts are directly in line with DEA’s priority to combat the rise of overdoses plaguing 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.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two people pleaded guilty to charges involving the interstate transport of stolen property, arising from a scheme to obtain vehicles totaling $172,950 in approximate value from car dealerships in Kentucky and West Virginia.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Millard Patrick, 52, and Mindy Turner, 51, admitted that Turner passed a bad check at a Louisville, Kentucky, dealership in June 2021 so they could obtain a 2020 Ford Explorer with an approximate value of $53,500. The two then transported that vehicle to West Virginia, where they unsuccessfully attempted to trade it in at a Charleston dealership for a more expensive Ford F-250.

Patrick admitted that he told an employee at the Charleston dealership that he worked for the United States Marshal Service, which he said would deliver a check in two days to pay for the trade-in. Patrick asked the employee to hold a personal check as collateral in the meantime. Patrick admitted that he told the employee not to be alarmed if an armed deputy U.S. Marshal appeared at the dealership to give him the check.

Turner and Patrick admitted that they passed another bad check at a Hurricane dealership in July 2021 to obtain a Jeep Cherokee with an approximate value of $60,056.22. The following day, the pair passed a bad check at a Ripley dealership to obtain a new Ford Explorer with an approximate value of $59,393.48. That same day, Patrick and Turner attempted to obtain a Ford F-150 with an approximate value of $64,108.24 from a Hurricane dealership. They were turned away when the bad check did not clear.

Patrick and Turner both pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the interstate transport of stolen property. Turner is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2022. Patrick is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4, 2022. Each defendant 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, commending the FBI for conducting the investigation and the Charleston Police Department, the Hurricane Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisville Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Negar M. Kordestani 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-18.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Putnam County man was sentenced today to four years in prison for committing two counts of aggravated identity theft as part of his scheme to defraud a local bank and two elderly residents in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Robert Jones, 52, of Hurricane, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay $25,000 in restitution as a result of his offenses and similar relevant conduct.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Jones admitted that an elderly woman from Clendenin hired him to do mold remediation and other handyman services at a Clendenin property that belonged to another elderly woman of advanced age. Jones admitted that he obtained blank checks belonging to the elderly homeowner and forged the signature of the woman who hired him. Jones wrote himself checks in this manner multiple times, in amounts payable of $7,000 and $8,500. Jones then deposited these falsified checks at the Hurricane branch of a local bank, where he had a checking account. Jones admitted that neither woman was aware that he used their personal identifiers in his efforts to obtain money from the bank.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. The Court cited Jones’ “despicable” criminal record, observing that Jones has a “persistent business of cheating people out of their hard-earned money” and that he “can’t keep cheating people and expect to get away with it.”

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office-Consumer Protection Division for conducting the investigation.

“The excellent investigative work in this case helped bring justice for some of the most vulnerable among us,” Thompson said.

Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott prosecuted the case. Jones currently faces additional pending state-level charges in Jackson, Lewis, Lincoln, and Putnam counties in connection with additional fraud schemes. 

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-132.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayette County man pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, David Shannon Browning, 57, of Oak Hill, admitted to selling approximately 6.79 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at his residence on January 4, 2022. Browning was on supervised release for a 2010 conviction for aiding and abetting the distribution of oxycodone when he committed this offense.

Browning is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 22 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force and the Oak Hill Police Department for conducting the investigation.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller 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-35.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Leon Eugene Smith, Jr., 41, admitted to selling approximately 0.5 grams of heroin to a confidential informant in Lanark, Raleigh County, for $80 on September 15, 2020. Smith further admitted to selling approximately 1.3 grams of heroin on September 17, 2020, and approximately 1 gram of heroin on September 23, 2020, each time to a confidential informant in Lenark for $160.

Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on August 5, 2022, 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 Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller 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. 5:21-cr-184.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Beckley woman pleaded guilty to interstate travel in aid of the distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ciara Harvey, 26, admitted that she traveled between Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Beckley on December 15, 2017, to deliver a package containing methamphetamine.

Harvey further admitted that she made these roundtrips to transport drug packages about once every two weeks from October 2017 until mid-2019, and that she was paid $16,000 to $20,000 annually for doing so. 

Harvey is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conducting the investigation.

United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is prosecuting the case.

This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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-52.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley woman pleaded guilty today to providing false information on an ATF form in order to acquire a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 14, 2021, Arileah Lacy, also known as Leah, 24, bought a Ruger, Model Ruger-57, 5.7x28 caliber pistol, for an individual who is separately charged in a pending gun trafficking conspiracy, Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh.” Jones had given Lacy money to buy the firearm and told her which one to buy from a gun dealer in Beckley, West Virginia.

Lacy purchased at least six firearms as part of the overall scheme. Each time Lacy bought firearms for Jones, she lied on ATF Form 4473, Federal Firearms Transaction Records certifying that she was buying the guns for herself when she knew they were for Jones.

Lacy is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which conducted the investigation.  

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), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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-46.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be commemorated April 24-30, 2022, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is sponsoring its 20th Annual Operation Reach Out Opening Ceremony to promote its observance.

The ceremony will be held at the West Virginia State Capitol on Tuesday, April 26, at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “Rights, access, equity for all victims,” and underscores the importance of helping crime survivors find their justice by enforcing the rights of victims, expanding access to services, and ensuring equity and inclusion for all.

Stephanie Wilson will share her message of hope and strength for fellow survivors as part of Tuesday’s ceremony. Wilson was only 11 years old when a man posing as a store security guard lured her away from her mother at the South Charleston Target and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint. As a result of his July 2003 crime, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to prison on both federal and state charges. Wilson now advocates for crime victims and encourages them to remember that they are not alone.

“Stephanie is a true profile in courage,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson, who will emcee the event. “She has triumphed over a horrific ordeal and her continuing dedication to survivors and their loved ones is an inspiration.”

Thompson will present several awards during the ceremony and is also among the scheduled speakers, who include: West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice John A. Hutchinson; West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw; West Virginia Legislative Claims Commission Clerk Janet Kawash; and West Virginia Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeff Sandy.

The ceremony is slated for the State Capitol’s South steps, near Kanawha Boulevard. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Senate side of the Capitol’s Upper Rotunda.

Each year, the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys’ offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide in April, to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. Operation Reach Out is a collaborative effort involving local advocacy programs that raise awareness of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and of the various organizations that provide services to crime victims.

The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.

The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers.

More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ojp.gov/. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDWV, Victim Witness Program at (304) 345-2200.

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. – Two Boone County men pleaded guilty in connection with  damage to an energy facility, identified as a known mine located across Boone and Lincoln counties.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Danny Griffy, 57, of Sylvester, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the destruction of an energy facility. Bradley Campbell, 27, of Costa, pleaded guilty to conspiring to damage an energy facility. The known mine is a West Virginia non-profit corporation engaged in the reclamation of a significant number of former mining permits and processes coal.

The case involved the theft of more than $5,000 worth of specialized mine equipment from the known mine on multiple occasions in April 2018, resulting in more than $5,000 in damage to the known mine. Campbell admitted to conspiring with others to steal the equipment, while Griffy admitted to aiding in the effort. Campbell and Griffy each admitted they and others sold the stolen equipment to a Whitesville business and converted the proceeds to their own uses.

Griffy is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27, 2022, and Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21, 2022. Each man faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Griffy and Campbell have also agreed to pay restitution.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the West Virginia State Police for conducting the investigation.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearings.  Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson is prosecuting the cases.

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-14, 2:22-cr-15, and 2:22-cr-77.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Re'Shaun Lamonte Wilborne, 36, admitted he possessed a Jimenez Arms, model JA NINE, 9mm caliber handgun found by Charleston Police officers when they arrested him on July 20, 2021, for an active state warrant.

Wilborne knew he has prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his January 2004 conviction in Fayette County Circuit Court for second-degree sexual assault and his August 2017 conviction in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Wilborne is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2022, 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani 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-162.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Cabell County woman was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, for use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kassie McNeeley, 22, of Lesage, delivered a package of methamphetamine for Myreo Dixon to an individual in an apartment on Crestmont Drive in Charleston on January 9, 2021. Dixon had directed McNeeley to deliver the package and collect $31,500 as payment for the methamphetamine. McNeeley utilized her cell phone to maintain contact with Dixon throughout the drug deal by texting him multiple times. When McNeeley left the apartment in her vehicle, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop and seized the $31,500 in drug proceeds.

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

This case is part of a long-term investigation, dubbed the “Woo Boyz,” which resulted in federal charges against 15 individuals and was conducted by 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), with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police. The Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) provided critical support to the investigative agencies.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the law enforcement agencies for conducting the investigation.

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-00032.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Mercer County man pleaded guilty today to distribution of hydromorphone.

According to court documents, Eric Hendricks, 46, of Bluefield, admitted he sold four hydromorphone pills for $100 to a confidential informant in the Bluefield, Mercer County, area on February 26, 2018. Hendricks further admitted to selling four hydromorphone pills to a confidential informant on February 21, 2018, and again on March 7, 2018.

Hendricks is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement. The Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. 

United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney John L. File 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. 1:18-cr-90.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud after accepting payments for building projects he never intended to do.

According to court documents, William T. Hurst, 44, of Morehead, Kentucky, admitted he agreed to build pole barns for a pair of residents in Putnam and Jackson counties in March 2021, receiving checks totaling $10,186 as down payments. Hurst admitted he never intended to build either barn, and instead cashed or deposited the checks at area banks for his personal use.

Hurst further admitted to similarly scamming six other property owners in Ona and Lesage, Cabell County; Charleston, Kanawha County; Coolville and Willow Wood, Ohio; and South Shore, Kentucky, all between February 22, 2021, and March 23, 2021. In each instance, Hurst agreed to build a pole barn or other structure but never began any work or bought any needed supplies. These residents together had paid Hurst $25,032, which he kept for himself. Hurst eventually stopped communicating with the victims.

Hurst admitted to receiving a total of $35,218 as a result of his fraudulent representations, and pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2022, and faces up to 40 years in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation. The Cabell County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia Department of Revenue also provided assistance with the investigation.

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston 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-41.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted an Ohio man of all four counts in a federal indictment charging him in connection with pipe bombs found on tugboats on the Ohio River.

Law enforcement officers recovered the destructive devices from two different tugboats moving barges on the Ohio River on October 21 and October 25, 2021. Evidence at trial revealed Nathaniel Blayn Becker, 42, of Marietta, Ohio, appeared on security video purchasing pipes and other relevant components of the devices from a Lowe’s store in Marietta on four separate occasions and close in time to when the devices were found. Around the time of the first incident, exterior security video from Lowe’s and the Walmart in Marietta showed Becker carrying pipe bomb components toward an Ohio River bridge. Investigators believe the destructive devices were dropped from the bridge.

Becker was found guilty of two counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device and two counts of placement of a destructive device on a vessel. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2022, and faces up to 60 years in prison.

The jury also heard that similar devices were discovered on a third tugboat moving barges on the Ohio River on October 26, 2021. However, those devices were found to contain non-explosive septic tank cleaner and therefore Becker was not charged.

Becker was on probation at the time of the offense, following his August 2020 conviction in the Washington County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas for failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. Becker had brandished a knife at an officer during a traffic stop and then led police on a car chase before barricading himself in his residence. Becker was arrested after a stand-off that ended when police forced entry into the home.

“We are fortunate that no one was injured. Such senseless potential for harm and destruction clearly required decisive action,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson in making the announcement. “The swift and successful investigation by the law enforcement agencies involved absolutely prevented this situation from becoming worse, and I commend them. I applaud Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua C. Hanks and Nick Miller, along with their trial team, for securing the guilty verdict.”

Thompson also thanked Lowe’s, Walmart and the tugboat owners – Crounse Corporation, Campbell Transportation Company and Marathon Petroleum Corp. – for their extensive cooperation in the case as well.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the jury trial. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Parkersburg Police Department, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office.

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-00234.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and a fentanyl analogue.

According to court documents, Joseph Ira Patterson III, 38, admitted that he sold approximately 8 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Huntington on March 29, 2021, and again on April 21, 2021. Patterson agreed to deliver more methamphetamine to the confidential informant in Charleston. Patterson was driving in Charleston for that meeting on April 22, 2021, when law enforcement officers stopped Patterson’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle yielded 907.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

Patterson admitted he had obtained methamphetamine from a Huntington storage unit prior to traveling to Charleston. Law enforcement officers carried out a search warrant for the unit and seized 282.97 grams of methamphetamine, 231.7 grams of a fentanyl analogue, and 15.70 grams of cocaine as well as nine firearms and drug paraphernalia. Officers also searched Patterson’s Jackson Avenue residence in Huntington and seized 58.345 grams of methamphetamine, 7.50 grams of fentanyl, 42.53 grams of marijuana and 18.51 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack.”

Patterson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022, and faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers 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. 3:21-cr-218.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Ohio woman pleaded guilty today to theft of federal funds after embezzling nearly $49,500 from the Huntington Tri-State Airport while employed as its finance director.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Melissa Sue Hall, 46, of South Point, Ohio, was the airport’s finance director from September 2017 until January 8, 2021. As finance director, Hall was responsible for accounting, depositing and withdrawing 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 and also took money from those 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.

Hall pleaded guilty to theft from programs receiving federal funds. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Hall also agreed to pay restitution in the case.

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

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe 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-54.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A man residing at a St. Albans halfway house pleaded guilty today to enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, Robert Dale Eady, 55, was placed at the halfway house to finish a 15-year prison sentence for a 2009 conviction for distribution of child pornography. While residing at the halfway house, Eady befriended a 13-year-old male who lived nearby and began messaging and calling the boy. Eady admitted that during a live video call on May 4, 2021, he enticed and persuaded the young boy to show his genitals, and Eady showed his genitals to the boy.

Eady is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2022, and faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

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

United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott 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 Nos. 2:22-cr-00063 and 2:21-cr-00206.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pleaded guilty today to the distribution of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Tekoa Rivers, 22, admitted that he sold fentanyl on April 29, 2021, in Huntington.

Rivers is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers 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. 3:22-cr-27.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

According to court documents, Christopher Eugene Capers, 34, admitted that he possessed a Taurus G2 9mm handgun found by Huntington Police officers during a May 21, 2020, traffic stop. Capers was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by officers. The officers found the handgun in Capers’ waistband. Capers further admitted that while on home confinement following this incident, law enforcement searching his Huntington residence on June 26, 2020, found approximately 46.2 grams of suspected cocaine base, also known as “crack,” as well as drug paraphernalia and $3,734.25 in cash.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Capers knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of several prior felony convictions including a February 2019 conviction in Cabell County Circuit Court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Capers is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, the Huntington Police Department, and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe 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-26.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance on a Bernard Street residence in Huntington on July 28, 2021, when they saw Marcellas Cortez Mitchell, 29, leave the residence in a vehicle. Mitchell was driving with a revoked license and officers stopped the vehicle. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers observed a front seat passenger making suspicious movements. A search of the passenger yielded two baggies containing suspected heroin. Mitchell admitted that he had given the passenger the baggies to conceal.

Mitchell pleaded guilty in December 2021 to possession with intent to distribute heroin. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory tested the contents of the two baggies, and found both contained fentanyl. One contained 6.53 grams of fentanyl and the other contained 9.83 grams of fentanyl.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of 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 Ryan A. Keefe prosecuted the case.

The case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that seeks 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. 3:21-cr-00139.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayette County woman pleaded guilty to the distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Brittany Ellen Flint, 32, of Fayetteville, admitted that she sold approximately 6.893 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on January 10, 2022, in Oak Hill.

Flint pleaded guilty Thursday and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2022. Flint faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force and the Oak Hill Police Department for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller 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-35.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Joshua Radcliffe, 39, of Shady Spring, admitted that he used a Cobray Model D, .45/.410-caliber Derringer pistol to rob the Shop Rite convenience store in Shady Spring, Raleigh County, on December 1, 2021. Law enforcement officers found the firearm in his residence on December 6, 2021.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Radcliffe was aware that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his August 2019 felony conviction in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia for conspiracy to use firearms in a drug trafficking crime.

Radcliffe is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

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

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-62.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Terrence Ramsey, 36,  admitted that law enforcement seized approximately 26 grams fentanyl from the room in a home where he was residing when they arrested him on February 9, 2021. The arrest was on a federal warrant arising from a November 7, 2020, incident on Charleston’s West Side. A 911 call reported a passed-out driver in a stopped vehicle. Responding officers found Ramsey passed out inside a gold Toyota Camry.  Ramsey admitted that when he was asked to exit the car, he attempted to flee and in doing so dropped a baggie containing 47 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture from the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt.

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

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger 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. 2:21-cr-00027.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Emmanuel Lamont Covington, 30, pawned a stolen Bond Arms Texas Defender, .45/.410-caliber Derringer pistol at a Charleston pawn shop on June 23, 2020.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Covington admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his 2015 felony conviction in Kanawha County Circuit Court for conspiracy to distribute heroin.

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

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie M. White and 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. 2:21-cr-00128.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Nicholas County man was sentenced today to two years in prison for possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

According to court documents, a deputy with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department performed a lawful search of a vehicle in which Kevin Barnhouse, 41, of Summersville, was a passenger in November 2020. Barnhouse admitted he possessed a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield .40-caliber handgun and an American Tactical .22-caliber rifle with a high-capacity magazine found during the search.

Barnhouse admitted that he possessed the firearms and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of a 2016 conviction in Nicholas County Magistrate Court for domestic assault on a family or household member.

United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman 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. 2:21-cr-00201.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County woman pleaded guilty today to misappropriation of postal funds.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Brittany Ellis, 31, of Blair, was a former employee of the United States Postal Service who worked at the Blair Post Office in Logan County. Ellis admitted to taking approximately $4,486.45 in proceeds from the sale of money orders between October 11, 2018, and December 7, 2018, which came into her possession in the execution of her employment with the United States Postal Service.

Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the work of the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General for their assistance in the investigation.

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. 2:20-cr-148.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Five individuals pleaded guilty this week to roles in a multi-state drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Huntington that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”

The five are the last of 18 individuals indicted to enter guilty pleas in the case, the result of a long-term investigation in which law enforcement seized more than 47 pounds of fentanyl, 4.5 pounds of cocaine, 2 pounds of heroin, 14 firearms and $335,000.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Marvin Jerome Calvin, 40, of  Huntington, pleaded guilty to the distribution of fentanyl after admitting that he sold approximately 1.8 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington on July 6, 2020. Calvin further admitted that he distributed crack cocaine to a confidential informant on June 25 and 26, 2020.  When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Calvin’s residence in Huntington on August 6, 2020, the officers recovered approximately 1.6 grams of cocaine, which Calvin admitted that he intended to sell.

Reginald Jerome Hairston, 43, of Huntington, admitted he conspired with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl between May and July 2021. Hairston acquired quantities of the controlled substances from co-defendant Christopher Leon Vest for purchase by other individuals. Hairston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Vest pleaded guilty in January 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.

Kimberly Ann Combs, 44, of Huntington, admitted that she bought 104 30-milligram oxycodone pills from co-defendant William Raeshaun Byrd at his Huntington residence on July 23, 2021. When Combs left Byrd’s residence, law enforcement officers stopped her vehicle and recovered the oxycodone pills. Combs further admitted she received oxycodone pills from Byrd on at least 10 other occasions in June and July 2021. Combs provided some of those pills to another individual. Combs pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of oxycodone and faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced on July 18, 2022. Byrd previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier this year to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. 

Dillon Andrew Young, 28, of Sissonville, admitted that he spoke to co-defendant Scott Midkiff on April 9, 2021, using the cell phone of another individual. Midkiff asked Young to bring the phone to him because Midkiff believed that the owner of the phone had stolen a quantity of drugs and money from him. Young agreed to bring the phone to Midkiff in exchange for money and 10 grams of methamphetamine. When Young entered Midkiff’s Huntington residence, law enforcement seized the phone and arrested Midkiff. Young pleaded guilty to use of a communications facility in committing, causing, and facilitating a felony, controlled substance offense. Young faces up to four years in prison when he is sentenced on August 1, 2022. Midkiff pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Brayan Luces, 24, of Columbus, Ohio, admitted from May to July 2021, he regularly shipped a minimum of 1 kilogram of fentanyl and 1 kilogram of cocaine, to an individual in Huntington. The fentanyl and cocaine were transported by vehicle from Columbus to Huntington where they were provided to an individual on consignment. After the drugs were sold in the Huntington area, Luces would receive the drug proceeds, which were transported by vehicle to Columbus.  Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Luces’ residence in Columbus on July 22, 2021, and seized 13 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately $26,484 in cash, two firearms, and various magazines and ammunition.  Luces pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and five kilograms or more of cocaine.  Luces faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on July 18, 2022.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings. 

“This successful prosecution targeted and dismantled a significant supply chain of deadly and illegal drugs,” United States Attorney Will Thompson said. “As we know all too well, these drugs ruin untold lives across our communities. I therefore commend the FBI and our federal, state, and local investigative partners along with Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Cremeans who handled these prosecutions.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern West Virginia TOC-West Task Force – composed of the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Hurricane Police Department, and the Marshall University Police Department – investigated the case. The West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West provided support.  The Ohio Highway Patrol, the Kentucky State Police, and the FBI and DEA in Columbus assisted in the investigation.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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-00109.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 30, 2021, officers with the Huntington Police Department observed a vehicle at the 3rd Avenue Speedway. The officers observed the driver and a passenger of the vehicle smoking marijuana.

The passenger, Jonathan Lee Sturkey, 37, was asked to step out of the vehicle. Sturkey admitted to the officers that he had a firearm. Officers retrieved a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver from Sturkey’s left coat pocket. Sturkey was aware that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his 2011 felony drug conviction in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Sturkey is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2022, and faces up to 10 years in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Huntington Police Department for conducting the investigation.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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-21.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man was sentenced today to one year and three months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for the distribution of fentanyl.

According to court documents, Martez D. Foy, 29, admitted he sold approximately 5.2 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant on March 10, 2021. He also admitted to selling approximately 5.1 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant on April 13, 2021. Both sales occurred in Huntington.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans 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. 3:21-cr-00222.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston woman pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Lettia Harris, 30, admitted to selling a firearm and approximately 0.6 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” to a confidential informant at her Charleston residence on November 14, 2018.

Harris is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2022, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in prison.

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

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner 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-117.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to a total of three years and 11 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and supervised release violations.

According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Charleston residence of Donavan Hardison, 31, on January 4, 2021. During the search, officers found approximately 2.826 grams of fentanyl on Hardison and  approximately 3.672 grams of crack cocaine in his vehicle. Hardison admitted that he intended to distribute both controlled substances. Hardison was on supervised release at the time as the result of two prior federal convictions.

Hardison was sentenced to two years and nine months for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. He received a consecutive sentence of one year and two months for violating the terms of his supervised release.

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

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller 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 Nos. 2:21-cr-00130; 2:18-cr-00040; and 2:15-cr-00135.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Michigan man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, James Meeks-Little, 29, of West Bloomfield, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by the United States Marshals Service on  June 24, 2021, in Beckley. At the time of the traffic stop, Meeks-Little was the subject of an arrest warrant. A search of the vehicle revealed 247.9 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl found hidden behind the glove box. Meeks-Little admitted that the fentanyl belonged to him and that he intended to distribute it.

A Springfield, model XD, 9mm semi-automatic pistol was also found during the search of the vehicle. Meeks-Little is prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his 2014 Michigan felony conviction for home invasion.

At the conclusion of the plea hearing, Meeks-Little was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, and the Beckley Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller 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. 5:21-cr-129.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Michigan man pleaded guilty today to the distribution of heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Glenn, 37, of Detroit, admitted that he sold heroin to a confidential informant on May 21, 2020, in Beckley. He also admitted he had $32,020 in drug proceeds in his possession when he was detained by law enforcement on April 20, 2020, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Glenn is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

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

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner 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. 5:21-cr-116.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Curtis Douglas Harris, 35, sold a confidential informant approximately 2.5 grams of fentanyl and a Cobra .380-caliber pistol on March 4, 2021. Law enforcement officers utilized a confidential informant to conduct a second controlled purchase from Harris, during which Harris sold approximately 14 grams of fentanyl to the informant for $1,400. Both controlled buys occurred at Harris’ Beckley residence.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for conducting the investigation.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney 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-00148.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two Charleston men pleaded guilty today to drug offenses involving a multi-state methamphetamine distribution ring, with one of them also pleading guilty to a related gun crime arising from a foiled Fourth of July 2021 murder scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Brian Dangelo Terry, 37, and Treydan Leon Burks, 31, admitted to obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine from out-of-state for distribution in and around Charleston. Terry admitted to distributing more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine between March 2019 and August 2021. Burks admitted to distributing between three and 11 pounds of methamphetamine between late 2020 and Sept. 28, 2021.  Terry and Burks pooled their money in order to obtain the drugs, used couriers to transport drugs and drug proceeds, and distributed the drugs to lower-level dealers and users.

Terry pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At a separate hearing, Burks pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. 

With regard to the firearm offense, Terry admitted that he, Burks, James Edward Bennett, III, and Douglas Johnathan Wesley armed themselves at Burks’ residence in Rand on July 4, 2021, and drove to Charleston’s West Side where they intended to shoot another man. Alerted to the plot, police in marked cruisers converged on the area. The four men abandoned their vehicle in a Washington Street parking lot due to the increased police presence. Federal agents executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered four loaded firearms, including an AR-style assault weapon with a drum magazine. Terry was aware that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm following felony convictions in 2005 and 2011, both in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

In his plea agreement, Burks also admitted his role in the July 4, 2021 incident. On March 2, 2022, Bennett pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm based upon his involvement in the plot. Wesley is scheduled for trial on May 24, 2022.

“This case represents an outstanding example of inter-agency teamwork and diligence that has not only dismantled a significant drug operation, but also prevented a violent crime from occurring,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “A quick response and coordinated effort by law enforcement spared Charleston’s West Side from another tragic incident.”

This case is part of a long-term investigation of a methamphetamine distribution network that resulted in 17 individuals being charged with various drug and firearms offenses in three separate indictments returned in 2021.

In addition to Burks, Terry and Bennett, several other individuals have already pleaded guilty: Denise Marie Cottrill, Angie Lane Harbour, Michael Antonio Smith, Shane Kelly Fulkerson, and Jason Robert Oxley. Timothy Wayne Dodd was convicted at trial last month. The remaining defendants are scheduled for trial on May 24, 2022.

Terry and Burks are scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 2022, and each faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison.

In announcing the guilty pleas, Thompson commended the collaborative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha and Putnam County Sheriff’s Departments, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) in investigating this drug trafficking organization.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over today’s hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Hanks and Alex Hamner are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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. 2:21-cr-00172, 2:21-cr-00171, and 2:21-cr-00211.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A St. Albans man was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute five or more grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, A St. Albans police officer stopped Austin Nathaniel Miller, 24, for riding a dirt bike on a city street on Aug. 14, 2021. Miller admitted to possessing a gun, and the officer recovered a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun from Miller’s waistband. In searching Miller’s backpack, the officer found two packages of suspected methamphetamine with a combined approximate weight of 239.21 grams. Drug lab analysis determined that the methamphetamine was approximately 96.4% pure. 

U.S. Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller 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. 2:21-cr-00204.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Putnam County man pleaded guilty today to attempted sex trafficking of a minor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, James Michael Pritt, 40, of Buffalo, admitted to contacting another man online and arranging to pay him $150 in exchange for the man providing him with a 14-year-old girl for sexual intercourse. When Pritt arrived at the meeting location in South Charleston, he was placed under arrest.

Pritt is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21, 2022, and faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement. The FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Andrew Isabell are 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-200.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Michigan man pleaded guilty today to a conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in Charleston from July 2020 to February 2021.

According to court documents, Myreo Dixon, 34, of Detroit, was sending multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine to Maylik Watson for distribution in Charleston. Dixon used Kassie McNeeley to drive the methamphetamine from Detroit to Watson in Charleston, and then to return the cash back to Dixon in Detroit.

One of these deliveries occurred on Jan. 9, 2021, when McNeeley brought Watson 8 pounds of methamphetamine from Dixon and received $31,500 from Watson to take back to Dixon. Law enforcement officers stopped McNeeley’s vehicle after she left Watson’s house, and located $31,500 in drug proceeds.

Dixon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2022, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement. The long-term investigation, dubbed the “Woo Boyz,” was conducted by 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), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police. The Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) provided critical support to the investigative agencies.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Monica Coleman is handling the prosecution.

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-00032.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County man pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Shawn Lamont Lane, 33, of Charleston, was arrested in March 2021 while in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine and a Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 9mm pistol.  Lane also admitted that he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Charleston in July 2021.

Lane is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21, 2022, and faces up to 20 years in prison for the drug offense and a consecutive sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison for the firearm offense.

U.S. 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.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner 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-00227.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County man was sentenced today to two and one-half years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and information presented in court, Kevin Maurice Crider, 52, fired a round from a .45-caliber handgun into the ground during a June 8, 2020 dispute with a neighbor in the Marmet area of Kanawha County. Crider admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing the firearm as a result of his 2005 felony conviction in Kanawha County Circuit Court for attempted prescription fraud.

U.S. Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Marmet Police Department.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell 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. 2:21-cr-00125.

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BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – After two days of trial, a federal jury convicted Kenneth Owens, 58, of Surveyor, today of attempted enticement of a West Virginia minor to engage in sexual activity.

Evidence at trial established that Owens attempted to entice a 15-year-old female relative to send him sexually explicit photos of herself from April 1, 2020 through Jan. 12, 2021. Owens provided the minor with cigarettes, vapes and alcohol in exchange for the images. Owens initially communicated with the minor female relative through Facebook, and then by cell phone.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the jury trial. Owens is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18, 2022, in Bluefield and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

“Bringing this case to trial and securing a guilty verdict underscores the commitment by this office and its many law enforcement partners to bring predators of children to justice,” United States Attorney Will Thompson said. “I commend the West Virginia State Police, the Beckley Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations for their work in the case. I congratulate Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Scott and Steve Loew along with the rest of our trial team for this successful prosecution.”

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. 1:21-cr-236.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to four years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and information presented during the sentencing hearing, Richard Daniels Jr., 39, possessed a loaded Springfield Model XD 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine during a Dec. 12, 2020, traffic stop in Charleston. The handgun was later determined to have been stolen. Daniels admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law because of his 2003 felony conviction for third-degree sexual assault in Rock County, Wisconsin.

U.S. 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.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller 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. 2:21-cr-00183.

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