Southern District of West Virginia

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Steven Mark Hosey, 59, of Poca, pleaded guilty today to unlawfully engaging in the business of dealing in firearms.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least April 2024 through April 10, 2025, Hosey sold firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL) in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Hosey admitted that he knew he needed an FFL based on the quantity and regularity with which he was buying and selling firearms. Hosey further admitted that he purchased firearms from FFL licensees with the intent to sell the firearms to other individuals, received requests from individuals for specific firearms that he would purchase to sell to those individuals, purchased firearms without a specific buyer in mind, and advertised the sale of firearms on various social media platforms.

Hosey also admitted that he sold between 40 and 50 firearms for profit during the time period. These firearms included a Glock model 43X 9mm pistol and a Shadow Systems model MR920 9mm pistol on January 25, 2025, a Glock model 40 10mm pistol and a Colt model Anaconda .44 Magnum revolver on February 6, 2025, a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson model 629 .44 Magnum revolver on February 28, 2025, a Glock model 45 9mm pistol and a FN model FNX-45 Tactical .45-caliber pistol on March 17, 2025, and a Kimber model Tactical Pro II 9mm pistol and a Springfield Armory model Hellcat 9mm pistol on April 8, 2025. Hosey admitted that he conducted the five transactions in the parking lot of an FFL business and sold the firearms to a confidential informant.

On April 10, 2025, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Hosey’s residence and seized 34 firearms. Hosey admitted that he intended to sell some of the seized firearms for profit.

Hosey is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 3:26-cr-36.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Demonte Jovon Walker, also known as “DJ,” 26, of Pontiac, Michigan, was sentenced today to one year and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The first year of supervised release is to be served on home detention.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 24, 2024, Walker sold approximately 83 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $450. As part of his guilty plea, Walker admitted that he arranged the transaction beforehand and conducted it in the confidential informant’s vehicle in Huntington.

Walker also admitted to additional criminal conduct. Walker sold approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $300 on October 2, 2024, and approximately 55 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $300 on October 17, 2024. Walker admitted that he conducted both transactions, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington, and arranged for another individual to sell approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $300 in Huntington on October 9, 2024.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Taylor and Courtney L. Finney 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. 3:25-cr-100.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Wayne Vickers, 35, of Summersville, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 13, 2024, Vickers possessed a SCCY Industries model CPX-2 9mm pistol in the Summersville area.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Vickers knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for burglary and grand larceny on March 10, 2021, and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering on March 12, 2015, both in Nicholas County Circuit Court.

Vickers is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:25-cr-185.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Mansfield Davis, 69, of Morgantown, was sentenced today to five months in prison for failure to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The sentence is to be served consecutively to previously imposed sentences totaling seven years and 10 months in prison.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis was living in South Charleston when he failed to register as a sex offender as required following his conviction for possession of child pornography in United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia on May 20, 2024.

For that offense, Davis was sentenced on September 5, 2024, to six years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Davis failed to self-report to prison as required on October 4, 2024. Law enforcement officers arrested Davis in Williamsburg, Virginia, on October 15, 2024. Davis was sentenced on August 20, 2025, to one year in prison for failing to surrender for a federal sentence, with the sentence to run consecutively to the sentence for possession of child pornography.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.

SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.

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. 2:24-cr-189.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Michael Pack, 39, of Beckley, a former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 30, 2026, for his role in a conspiracy in which he and other correctional officers would use unreasonable force against inmates, including pretrial detainees, as a form of punishment and retaliation. Pack pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 371.

According to his plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Pack acknowledged that he and his co-conspirators would strike, assault, and harm inmates they believed or perceived to have engaged in misconduct. As part of this conspiracy, Pack and his co-conspirators would bring inmates to “blind spots” – areas of the jail that were not captured on surveillance cameras – so that they could use unreasonable and unjustified force against the inmates without being recorded and thus avoid being held accountable for their actions.

Pack further admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators would prepare false reports denying their unreasonable uses of force against inmates and failing to document injuries that inmates sustained during use of force incidents, so that the conspirators would not be investigated or held accountable for their actions.  

Pack is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and United States Attorney Moore Capito for the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement. The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office, Charleston Resident Agency, investigated the case.

United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and former Trial Attorney Sam Kuhn of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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. 5:26-cr-30.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeffrey Allen Jones, also known as “Ben,” 46, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 7, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ Huntington residence and seized approximately 44 grams of fentanyl, approximately 23 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and a loaded Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol. As part of his guilty plea, Jones admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them, and that he possessed the firearm to protect himself and the seized drugs.

Jones also admitted to selling fentanyl on four occasions between January 2, 2025, and March 5, 2025, in quantities of approximately 1 gram each time to a confidential informant at the Huntington residence and in exchange for $80.

On December 17, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington motel room, where they arrested Jones and seized approximately 15 grams of crack and 5 grams of fentanyl in his possession.

Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, a consecutive term of at least five years and up to life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to 1,250,000.00.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work 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 Attorneys Stephanie Taylor and Courtney L. Finney are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-153.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Rosmery Morales-Mejia, also known as “Rosita Mejia-Perez,” 27, a Mexican national living illegally in Nitro, pleaded guilty today to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and was sentenced to time served. Morales-Mejia will be subject to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer for her transfer to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about June 28, 2025, to on or about January 16, 2026, Morales-Mejia used a counterfeit Immigration Form I-551, also known as a Permanent Resident Card or Green Card, to obtain employment at the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in Nitro.

Morales-Mejia admitted that she and her husband each purchased a counterfeit Green Card and a counterfeit Social Security card, that she and her husband knew these documents were counterfeit, that her counterfeit documents did not list her real name, and that she and her husband both used their counterfeit documents to obtain employment at the restaurant.

Morales-Mejia further admitted that she and her husband rented a room from restaurant owner Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr. in a house he owned behind the restaurant. Morales-Mejia also admitted that she and her husband lived in the house with other foreign nationals who were living and working in the Southern District of West Virginia without legal status.

Morales-Mejia and her husband, Wilmar Aristo Pablos-Miguel, are among six illegal aliens indicted following the execution of a January 16, 2026, search warrant at the restaurant on charges alleging they were working there without legal status. In addition to Morales-Mejiam, Pablos-Miguel, also known as “Ariosto Pablos-Miguel,” 42, and Jose Alfredo Cruz-Perez, 22, each pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and were sentenced to time served with ICE immigration detainers pending.

Aguirre-Arello Sr., 65, and his son, restaurant manager Miguel Angel Aguirre, 43, both of Nitro, were indicted on charges alleging each harbored aliens, while aiding and abetting each other, and aided and abetted fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. That indictment and the indictments against the remaining illegal alien defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The January 16, 2026, search warrant was executed as part of Operation Country Roads. Conducted by ICE with state and local law enforcement partners, the immigration enforcement operation resulted in over 650 arrests throughout West Virginia.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Nitro Police Department, and the St. Albans Police Department.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case, as part of a special unit within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia focused on the immigration enforcement objectives of Operation Take Back America.

Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:26-cr-16.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tavoyn Billy Morrison, 26, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of cocaine base, also known as “crack.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 31, 2025, Morrison sold approximately 3 grams of crack to a confidential informant for $200 at a Huntington residence. As part of his guilty plea, Morrison admitted to conducting the transaction and further admitted that he sold approximately 3 grams of crack to a confidential informant for $200 outside of the Huntington residence on August 14, 2025.

Morrison is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

Morrison is among seven individuals who pleaded guilty as the result of an investigation targeting the distribution of controlled substances in the Huntington area.

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

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-156.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Sharee Woodson, 45, of Beckley, was sentenced on March 27, 2026, to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine base, also known as “crack.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 29, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Woodson’s residence and seized 150.23 grams of methamphetamine, 80.57 grams of fentanyl, and 13.94 grams of cocaine. As part of his guilty plea, Woodson admitted that he intended to distribute the seized controlled substances in and around the Southern District of West Virginia. Officers also seized a Taurus GC3 9mm handgun and assorted ammunition during the search.

Woodson has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for distribution of 5 grams or more of cocaine base, grand larceny, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons 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. 5:25-cr-116.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tracey Brown, 46, of Chelyan, was sentenced today to 21 years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about December 12, 2023, Brown obtained approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine in the Dayton, Ohio, area and transported the controlled substance to an Elkview, West Virginia, residence where he was living. Brown admitted that he distributed approximately 1 pound of the methamphetamine and intended to distribute the remaining methamphetamine with another person in the Southern District of West Virginia.

On December 13, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Elkview residence and seized the remaining methamphetamine.

Brown has a criminal history that includes more than 30 convictions for such offenses as malicious assault, assault, escape from work-release, destruction of property and multiple counts each of unlawful assault, battery, and violation of a protective order.

“The message should be loud and clear — if you traffic drugs in our community, we will identify you, arrest you, and hold you accountable,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Thanks to the dedicated and professional police work by our law enforcement partners, Brown was prevented from distributing a massive amount of dangerous drugs in the Southern District of West Virginia.”  

Capito made the announcement and commended the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force for their investigation of this case. The U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force consists of members of the Mingo County Sheriff's Office, the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, and the West Virginia State Police.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum and former Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh 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. 2:24-cr-16.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Isaiah Levi Creasey, 23, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to making a false statement in connection with a purchase of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 25, 2025, Creasey purchased a Glock model 19X 9mm pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in South Charleston. As part of his guilty plea, Creasey admitted that he purchased the firearm for a juvenile and falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that he was the purchaser of the firearm when he knew he was buying it for the juvenile. Creasey further admitted that he intended to deceive the firearms dealer into believing he was the actual buyer of the pistol, and that following the purchase he gave the pistol to the juvenile who was waiting in his vehicle outside of the business.

Creasey is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney Moore Capito 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 David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:26-cr-9.

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BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Will Adrian Samuels, 48, of Jefferson, Texas, was sentenced today to time served and ordered to pay $1,990.84 in restitution for destruction of government property.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 19, 2023, Samuels repeatedly threw objects at two glass exterior doors located at the front of the Elizabeth Kee Federal Building in Bluefield, West Virginia, causing more than $1,000 in damage.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and the assistance provided by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and the Wytheville, Virginia, Police Department.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph 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. 1:24-cr-195.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Andre Marvin Marneal Jenkins, also known as “Meech,” 28, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jenkins admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Jenkins arranged to distribute fentanyl pills to a co-conspirator who intended to redistribute those pills to a customer. Jenkins also assisted a co-conspirator in the distribution of fentanyl powder to a customer. On April 10, 2025, law enforcement officers encountered Jenkins when they executed a search warrant at a Charleston apartment and seized a quantity of fentanyl and a loaded Glock 17 9mm pistol from Jenkins’ possession. Jenkins also possessed a key to a storage unit in Dunbar. Officers executed a search warrant on that storage unit and recovered over 5,300 pills containing fentanyl and other substances, along with three additional firearms.  

Jenkins is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2,250,000.00

Jenkins is among 16 individuals indicted as the result of a federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Seven defendants in the main indictment pleaded guilty including Jenkins. Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

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

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:25-cr-78.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Wilmar Aristo Pablos-Miguel, also known as “Ariosto Pablos-Miguel,” 42, a Mexican national living illegally in Nitro, pleaded guilty today to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and was sentenced to time served. Pablos-Migue will be subject to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer for his transfer to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 16, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in Nitro and encountered Pablos-Miguel working there. Investigators determined that Pablos-Miguel used a counterfeit Immigration Form I-551, also known as a Permanent Resident Card or Green Card, to obtain employment at the restaurant from on or about June 28, 2025, to on or about January 16, 2026.

Pablos-Miguel is among six illegal aliens indicted following the execution of the January 16, 2026, search warrant, each on charges alleging they were working at the restaurant without legal status. Restaurant owner Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr., 65, and his son, manager Miguel Angel Aguirre, 43, both of Nitro, were indicted on charges alleging each harbored aliens, while aiding and abetting each other, and aided and abetted fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. The indictments against Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr., Miguel Angel Aguirre, and the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

These cases are the result of Operation Country Roads. Conducted by ICE with state and local law enforcement partners, the January 2026 immigration enforcement operation yielded over 650 arrests throughout West Virginia.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Nitro Police Department, and the St. Albans Police Department.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case as part of a special unit within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia focused on the immigration enforcement objectives of Operation Take Back America.

Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:26-cr-11.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today, Dylan James Pettyjohn, 21, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to selling a firearm to a convicted felon and Joe Sidney Cross, 43, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. Pettyjohn and Cross were each indicted as the result of an investigation targeting the distribution of controlled substances in the Huntington area.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Pettyjohn sold a Calwest model J-22 .22-calier pistol to a confidential informant for $150. As part of his guilty plea, Pettyjohn admitted that he conducted the transaction after arranging it beforehand, that the confidential informant told him he was a convicted felon during the transaction, and that the transaction occurred at the Huntington residence of Erin Leigh Keeney.

Pettyjohn further admitted to selling a Glock model 34 9mm pistol for $600 on May 13, 2025, and a Just Right Carbines model JR Carbine 9mm rifle for $650 on May 22, 2025, each time to the confidential informant in Huntington.

On May 13, 2025, Cross sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $220 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Cross admitted that he arranged the transaction beforehand and conducted the drug deal in the confidential informant’s vehicle.

Cross also admitted to conspiring with another individual to conduct additional transactions on March 20 and March 24, 2025. During each transaction, Cross sold a firearm and Keeney sold approximately 1 gram of carfentanil to a confidential informant. Cross further admitted to selling 8.45 grams of fentanyl on May 22, 2025, and approximately 11.44 grams of fentanyl on June 12, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington.

On September 11, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence while Cross was present and seized approximately 12.35 grams of suspected cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Cross admitted that he intended to sell the seized crack.

Pettyjohn and Cross are scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2026. Pettyjohn faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Cross faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

Cross and Keeney are among four individuals who pleaded guilty after a federal grand jury indicted them on charges alleging they conspired to distribute fentanyl, crack, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area from at least in and around March 2025 to in and around August 2025. Keeney, 41, of Huntington, pleaded guilty on December 15, 2025, to distribution of carfentanil and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28, 2026. Pettyjohn and another individual pleaded guilty after they were indicted separately as a result of the same investigation.

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

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the cases.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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 Nos. 3:25-cr-161 (Cross) and 3:25-cr-158 (Pettyjohn).

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marcus Allen Johnson, also known as “Mook,” 41, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 28, 2025, Johnson sold approximately 56.68 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington for $2,500. As part of his guilty plea, Johnson admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.

Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.

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

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-187.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – James Garner, also known as “Jake,” 35, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. Garner admitted to a role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 17, 2025, Garner sold approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $350. As part of his guilty plea, Garner admitted that co-defendant Joshua Willie McCarver directed the confidential informant to a Baer Street residence in Huntington, where Garner sold the methamphetamine to the confidential informant.

Garner also admitted to the following criminal conduct: he sold approximately 51 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $350 on January 22, 2025, and approximately 336 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $2,400 on February 21, 2025. Garner admitted that he conducted both transactions at the Baer Street residence, and that McCarver arranged each transaction beforehand and directed the confidential informant to the residence in each instance. On May 31, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in Huntington of a vehicle in which Garner was a passenger. Garner admitted that he exited the vehicle during the traffic stop and discarded a bag containing approximately 459 grams of methamphetamine near the front passenger side of the vehicle. Garner further admitted that he returned to the vehicle when instructed to by an officer, but then fled from the traffic stop on foot and was apprehended after a pursuit. Officers recovered the bag discarded by Garner and a bag containing approximately 49.8 grams of fentanyl in the front passenger floorboard of the vehicle. Garner admitted that he possessed the recovered methamphetamine and fentanyl and intended to distribute the controlled substances for money.

Garner is among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO. Five defendants pleaded guilty, including Garner. The charges against McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 27, of Detroit, Michigan, and the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 3:25-cr-154.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert J. Thomas, 30, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 27, 2024, Thomas possessed a Glock Model 27 .40-caliber pistol in the Jefferson area of Kanawha County.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Thomas knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 9, 2019.

Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Charleston Police Department.

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

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:25-cr-40.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Crystal Renee Severson, 45, of Gauley Bridge, pleaded guilty today to fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, features, and information.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from March 28, 2016, to March 16, 2022, Severson was an administrative assistant at the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists with duties that included receiving applications and application fees from individuals seeking to be licensed as nail technicians.

On or about January 10, 2022, Severson altered a $100 money order submitted by a licensure applicant by removing the payee’s name and address. As part of her plea agreement, Severson admitted that she replaced that information with the name and address of her mother and deposited the money order in her own personal bank account. Severson further admitted that her mother was unaware that she had altered the money order and had not given her permission to use her name on it.

Severson also admitted that she fraudulently deposited 19 other money orders submitted by licensure applicants between August 21, 2019, and November 23, 2021. The 20 money orders fraudulently deposited by Severson totaled $1,855.00.

Severson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Severson also owes at least $1,855.00 in restitution.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) and the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations.

United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage 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. 2:26-cr-26.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Timothy D. Luckett, also known as “Fetty” and “Jack Boi,” 33, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 21, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Rotary Road residence in Huntington where they encountered Luckett. On a kitchen counter in the residence, officers found approximately 454 grams of methamphetamine on one digital scale, approximately 2.5 grams of fentanyl on a second digital scale, and approximately 50 grams of fentanyl in a backpack. Under a dresser, officers found a loaded Ruger .45-caliber pistol, a loaded Sig Sauer Mosquito .22-caliber pistol, a Feather Industries .22-caliber rifle, and ammunition. Officers also found $7,278 in the residence and $380 on Luckett’s person during the search. As part of his guilty plea, Luckett admitted that he used the residence to store and conduct distributions of controlled substances, and that the seized cash was proceeds from his distribution of methamphetamine.

Luckett also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On November 8, 2023, Luckett sold approximately 7.6 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington in exchange for $800.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Finney 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. 3:25-cr-105.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Francis Combs, 58, of Cool Ridge, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 30, 2024, Combs sold a Bryco Arms model Jennings J-22 .22-caliber pistol to a confidential informant in Raleigh County. As part of his guilty plea, Combs admitted to conducting the transaction at his residence and after selling a quantity of fentanyl to the confidential informant at a gas station in Ghent.

Combs also admitted to selling a quantity of fentanyl and a Jimenez Arms model JA-Nine 9mm pistol to a confidential informant at his residence on August 1, 2024.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Combs knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 26, 2007, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in Wyoming County Circuit Court on October 1, 2019.

Combs is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.

United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon have 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. 5:24-cr-188.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Paul Charles Clement, 43, of Hillsboro, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failure to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) after relocating from Virginia to West Virginia.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about March 8, 2024, through in or around December 2024, Clement resided in the Ronceverte area of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, after relocating from Virginia. Clement knew he was required to comply with the provisions of SORNA because of his conviction on two felony counts of carnal knowledge of a child 13 to 15 years old in Botetourt County, Virginia, Circuit Court on December 2, 2002.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and the West Virginia State Police.

Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.

SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.

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. 5:25-cr-89.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jose Alfredo Cruz-Perez, 22, a Mexican national living illegally in Nitro, pleaded guilty today to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and was sentenced to time served. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainer on Cruz-Perez for his transfer to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 16, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in Nitro and encountered Cruz-Perez working there. Investigators determined that Cruz-Perez used a counterfeit Immigration Form I-551, also known as a Permanent Resident Card or Green Card, to obtain employment at the restaurant from on or about November 26, 2024, to on or about January 16, 2026.

Cruz-Perez is among six foreign nationals indicted following the execution of the January 16, 2026, search warrant on charges alleging they were working at the restaurant without legal status. Restaurant owner Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr., 65, and manager Miguel Angel Aguirre, 42, both of Nitro, were indicted on charges alleging each aided and abetted alien harboring. That indictment further alleges that Miguel Angel Aguirre aided and abetted the unlawful employment of aliens and aided and abetted fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. The indictments against Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr., Miguel Angel Aguirre, and the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is the result of Operation Country Roads, conducted by ICE with state and local law enforcement partners in January 2026 and yielding over 650 arrests throughout West Virginia.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Nitro Police Department, and the St. Albans Police Department.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case, as part of a special unit within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia focused on the immigration enforcement objectives of Operation Take Back America.

Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:26-cr-12.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Amanda Marie Mace, also known as “A,” 43, of South Charleston, was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Mace admitted to her role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Mace took part in the conspiracy between June 2024 and April 2025. As part of her guilty plea, Mace admitted that she obtained at least 30 pounds of methamphetamine during the time period from co-conspirator Robert Ford, that Ford transported the drugs to West Virginia from Detroit, Michigan, and that she distributed the drugs to multiple customers including significant methamphetamine dealers within the Southern District of West Virginia.

Mace further admitted that she made $200 to $300 for each pound of methamphetamine she sold for Ford, and that her main customers who re-distributed the methamphetamine that she sold to them included co-conspirators Quanda Kiev Wilborne and Michael Allen Corkhill.

Mace has a criminal history that includes two prior convictions for drug-dealing offenses.

Mace, Ford, Wilborne, and Corkhill are among 16 individuals indicted as the result of a federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Five defendants in the main indictment pleaded guilty in addition to Mace. Wilborne, also known as “Quan” and “Queso,” 30, of Charleston, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Corkhill, also known as “Mike” and “Mike Mike,” 31, of Dunbar, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 27, 2026, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. The indictment against Ford, also known as “Jason” and “J,” 44, of Van Buren Township, Michigan, and the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:25-cr-78.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – Alfred Leslie Pittman, 37, of Harper Heights, was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A federal jury found Pittman guilty on May 5, 2025, following a one-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that on April 26, 2023, Pittman was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Beckley Police Department officers in Beckley. During the traffic stop, officers found that Pittman possessed a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol with a chambered round and an extended magazine containing 32 rounds in the vehicle.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Pittman knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for robbery in the first degree in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 2, 2015.

Pittman’s criminal history also includes prior convictions for conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, domestic battery, and unlawful assault.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian D. Parsons and Joshua Hanks 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. 5:23-cr-169.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kevin Wayne Gardner, 42, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 16, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Gardner in the Parkersburg area of Wood County. Officers seized approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine during a search of the vehicle.

Gardner is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force and the Wood County Sheriff's Office.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-190.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jazmir Tyheem Young, 24, of Beckley, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of more than 5 grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 1, 2024, Young sold more than 5 grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant in a Harper Road parking lot in Beckley. As part of his guilty plea, Young admitted to the transaction.

Young has a criminal history that includes two prior felony convictions. At the time of this offense, Young was on probation for a state-level criminal conviction.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.

Chief United States District JudgeFrank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph 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. 5:25-cr-119.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Kody D. Harless, 28, of Tomahawk, Kentucky, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to eight years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 15, 2023, Harless received approximately 4.75 grams of fentanyl from an individual in Huntington. A law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in which Harless was traveling following the transaction and located and seized the fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Harless admitted that he obtained the seized fentanyl after arranging to purchase it beforehand, and that he intended to distribute some of it.

Harless also admitted to additional criminal conduct. Harless participated in a conspiracy to receive fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia for distribution. Harless admitted that he took part in the conspiracy from at least July 2023 to in and around November 2023, received methamphetamine and fentanyl on a regular basis from others in the Huntington area, and transported the controlled substances to Kentucky where he distributed them.

Harless is among 27 individuals indicted on charges alleging they participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. Harless and another co-defendant pleaded guilty to separate charges in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment. Twenty-three defendants pleaded guilty in the main indictment. Charges against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department..

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.

The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program 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. 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. 3:24-cr-7.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Konnor Wolfe Lyons, 35, of Huntington, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to five years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography. Lyons must also register as a sex offender.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 24, 2023, Lyons utilized a peer-to-peer file sharing computer network to download 464 digital media files containing child pornography. As part of his guilty plea, Lyons admitted that he knowingly downloaded the files via an internet connection and knew they depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct including sadistic and masochistic abuse.

Lyons also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On September 2, 2024, Lyons utilized a peer-to-peer file-sharing computer network to download six digital media files containing child pornography. Lyons admitted that the files depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and he downloaded them using an internet connection.

On November 4, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lyons’ residence and seized his cell phone. A forensic extraction of the cell phone revealed 1,546 images of child pornography that Lyons had downloaded from the internet.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Parkersburg Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted 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.

This case is also the result of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

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. 3:25-cr-76.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Richard Dale Turner, 44, of Julian, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to two years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failure to update his registration to report a change in employment and interstate travel, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

According to court documents and statements made in court, Turner is required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction for third-degree sexual assault in Mason County Circuit Court on March 8, 2016. Turner failed to report a change in his employment status as required when he left a job with a trucking firm on January 3, 2025. An arrest warrant was issued for Turner when he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance on June 23, 2025. On August 15, 2025, law enforcement officers captured Turner in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Turner failed to register as a sex offender in Florida or report his interstate travel in West Virginia.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.

SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.

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. 2:25-cr-168.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Scott Burd, 60, of Huntington, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 6, 2025, Burd sold approximately 29 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,000. As part of his guilty plea, Burd admitted that his co-defendant, Adrian Demetrius Ludaway, arranged the transaction beforehand and met with the confidential informant at Burd’s Huntington residence, where Burd distributed the fentanyl to the confidential informant.

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

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Taylor and Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.

Ludaway, also known as “A1,” 35, of Wayne, Michigan, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, to nine years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl and a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-103.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito will address the media this afternoon at the Sidney L. Christie U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Huntington following the sentencing of Todd M. Chapman.

Chapman, 58, of Huntington, pleaded guilty earlier to bank fraud, admitting that he embezzled at least $602,000 from a now-defunct Huntington law firm while its office manager.

WHO: United States Attorney Moore Capito

WHAT: Media Availability

WHEN: Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sidney L. Christie U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building
                  845 Fifth Avenue, Huntington

*** NOTE: the media availability is contingent upon the completion of the sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ***

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

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Misty Dawn Baisden, 48, of St. Albans and a convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty today to failing to update her registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about September 17, 2025, through on or about October 30, 2025, Baisden failed to report that she had begun working at a St. Albans business.

Baisden is required to register as a sex offender because of her conviction for conspiracy to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on October 19, 2017.

Baisden is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.

SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.

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. 2:26-cr-2.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Todd M. Chapman, 58, of Huntington, was sentenced today to four years and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $602,362.97 in restitution for bank fraud. Chapman admitted that he embezzled funds from a now-defunct Huntington law firm while employed as the office manager, including money from client trust accounts and proceeds from a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

According to court documents and statements made in court, Chapman was employed as the firm’s office manager for approximately 30 years. Beginning in 2016, Chapman enriched himself by writing unauthorized checks from the firm’s operating accounts and client trust accounts to himself. As part of his guilty plea, Chapman admitted that he had complete and exclusive control of the firm’s day-to-day finances during this time period, allowing him to carry out his scheme. Chapman further admitted that he forged signatures on checks, created false documents, made false statements under oath, and made false statements to federal law enforcement agents investigating the loss of client funds at the firm. Chapman ceased employment at the now-defunct law firm in April 2022.

Chapman embezzled at least $409,000 from the estates of three deceased firm clients, $100,000 that one minor client was supposed to receive upon turning 18, and $15,838.84 of an initial $20,000 settlement deposit for another minor client who suffered an injury as an infant. Chapman also embezzled $13,686.21 from a $20,375 PPP loan that the firm legitimately received to provide emergency financial aid during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapman admitted that he spent the embezzled funds for his personal enjoyment and lifestyle.

Five of Chapman’s victims addressed the Court during the sentencing hearing. The Court found that Chapman abused his position of trust repeatedly over multiple years and sentenced him to the maximum prison term under Sentencing Commission guidelines.

“Stealing is bad enough. Stealing from victims — some of them children — while entrusted to safeguard their funds is indefensible," said United States Attorney Moore Capito. "This defendant’s conduct inflicted financial harm on individuals and shook confidence in an institution people depend on in their most difficult moments. That betrayal demanded accountability.”

Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, and since-retired Southern District of West Virginia Litigation Financial Analyst Steve Rowley.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Kathleen Robeson and former 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. 3:25-cr-121.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito announced today that the Southern District of West Virginia collected $4,322,154.61 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $2,400,940.61 was collected in criminal actions and $1,921,214.00 was collected in civil actions. 

Additionally, the Southern District of West Virginia worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $2,339,409.44 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $3,082.92 was collected in criminal actions and $2,336,326.52 was collected in civil actions.      

“Public money is not a personal piggy bank, and crime has real victims. Whether it’s fraud, violence, or exploitation, we will use every civil and criminal tool available to hold offenders accountable,” Capito said. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer dollars, make victims whole, and ensure justice is done. I am incredibly proud of the tireless work of our attorneys and professional staff who fight every day to deliver those results.”

The collections include $451,237.51 in criminal restitution and a $451,237.51 civil penalty paid by Mark William Bailey, 53, of Beckley, after he pleaded guilty to theft of government monies. Bailey admitted to stealing COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The civil collections also include $1,207,600.00 from Horne LLP, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, to resolve civil allegations that it received improper payments from federal disaster recovery grant funds in connection with services it provided in 2017 and 2018 in West Virginia. Another $191,070 was paid by Thompson Construction Group Inc., of Sumter, South Carolina, to resolve civil allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment from federal disaster recovery grant funds and by falsely certifying that homes it had constructed were compliant with contract conditions. Both civil collections involve disaster recovery services provided in response to the severe and deadly flooding that struck parts of the Southern District of West Virginia in June 2016.

The collections also include $146,771.37 in criminal restitution and a $5,000 fine paid by Luther A. Hanson, 73, of Charleston, after he pleaded guilty to willful failure to pay over taxes. Hanson admitted that he willfully and intentionally did not withhold or pay employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for two employees of his accounting services businesses.

The civil collections in jointly pursued cases include $415,112.00 secured by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Southern District of West Virginia in a lawsuit alleging employment discrimination by Wal-Mart Stores East LP.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of West Virginia, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,264,871 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

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

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Geon Lavell Henderson, also known as “Money,” 52, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl. Henderson admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 9, 2025, Henderson sold approximately 110 grams of methamphetamine and 1.9 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington in exchange for $800. As part of his guilty plea, Henderson admitted that he conducted the transaction, that he arranged it beforehand, and that it took place at his residence.

Henderson further admitted to arranging the sale of approximately 111 grams of methamphetamine for $900 and of approximately 55 grams of methamphetamine for $400 on April 17, 2025.  Another individual sold the methamphetamine during both transactions, each time to a confidential informant at a residence in Huntington.

Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.

Henderson is among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. Five defendants pleaded guilty, including Henderson. The indictment against the other defendants remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Finney are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 3:25-cr-154.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Franklin Fitzgerald Elly, also known as “Costco,” 36, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 11 years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about May 2025 to in or about July 2025, Elly conspired with co-defendant Eric Jaeshon Ray and with other individuals to distribute fentanyl in the St. Albans area of Kanawha County. On four separate occasions between May and June 2025, Elly assisted Ray in distributing a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant in St. Albans as part of the conspiracy. Elly was found responsible for over 500 grams of fentanyl in this case.

Elly has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for drug dealing offenses in Michigan and Indiana and for drug dealing offenses and being a person prohibited from possessing firearms in West Virginia. Elly was on parole at the time of his current offense.

Elly and Ray are among 16 individuals indicted as the result of a federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Six co-defendants in the main indictment pleaded guilty. Elly and Ray are among four additional defendants who pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. Ray, also known as “Brody,” 32, was sentenced on January 15, 2026, to eight years and one month in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

“Franklin Fitzgerald Elly is a career criminal who has sold drugs in West Virginia and two other states. He has committed three of his drug-dealing crimes, including this one, while on parole or probation for a prior drug-related conviction,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “As today’s sentence shows, this office and our law enforcement partners are determined to go after those who seek to harm our communities to the maximum extent the law allows.”

Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 2:25-cr-128.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – James Burke, 55, of Grayson, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to embezzlement of assets of a labor union.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about July 2022 through in or about October 2023, Burke was the financial secretary of a labor organization located in Huntington. Burke admitted that he issued nine unauthorized or altered checks payable to himself totaling $22,642.42.  Burke further admitted that he improperly withheld portions of checks payable to the labor organization as cash totaling $14,332.94 when he deposited them. Burke also admitted that he diverted six dues checks payable to the labor organization and totaling $3,035.70 to his personal use.

Burke is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Burke also owes $40,011.47 in restitution. Burke also faces a ban on holding office in a labor organization for up to 13 years.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Department of Labor-Office of Labor-Management Standards.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price 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. 3:26-cr-5.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jackie Dwayne Lucas, also known as “Dwayne,” 49, of Huntington, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Lucas admitted to a role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 4, 2025, Lucas distributed approximately 112.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $650. As part of his guilty plea, Lucas admitted that he distributed the methamphetamine, conducted the transaction at his residence, and that it had been arranged beforehand by a co-defendant.

Lucas also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On July 29, 2025, Lucas sold approximately 113.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $650. Lucas admitted that he conducted the transaction, that it occurred at his residence, and that another co-defendant arranged it beforehand.

Lucas is among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO. Lucas and three co-defendants pleaded guilty. The charges against the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Finney and Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 3:25-cr-154.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Daniel Legette, also known as “Bam,” 50, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 21, 2025, Legette sold approximately 0.65 grams of fentanyl and 0.42 grams of crack to a confidential informant in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Legette admitted to the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.

Legette is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work 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 Joseph F. Adams is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-186.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Christian Gale Biles, 21, of Vienna, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 4, 2024, Biles took possession of a package delivered to his residence by the United States Postal Service. As part of his guilty plea, Biles admitted that he knew the package contained methamphetamine in advance of his receiving it, that he took possession of the methamphetamine contained in the package, and that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to another individual.

Biles is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Parkersburg Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph 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. 2:25-cr-164.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Silvester Barcenas, 24, a Mexican national living illegally in the United States, was sentenced on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to four years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 12, 2024, Barcenas arrived in Charleston, West Virginia, with over 8 pounds of methamphetamine in a vehicle he had driven from South Carolina, where he was living at the time. Barcenas admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine, that a co-conspirator directed him to deliver the methamphetamine to another individual in Charleston, and that he delivered the methamphetamine to the individual as instructed.

Barcenas and two other Mexican nationals living illegally in the United States were indicted by a federal grand jury as the result of a joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement into a conspiracy that was responsible for delivering large quantities of methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere from Houston. Braulio Villa-Chairez, also known as “Raul,” 32, pleaded guilty on August 11, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 25, 2026.  Co-defendant German Francisco Diaz, also known as “Trulio,” 41, remains a fugitive. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Israel Chaires-Villa, 23, a Mexican national, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to three years and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine as a result of the joint investigation.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has immigration detainers on the Mexican national defendants for their transfer to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings upon the conclusion of their criminal cases.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-176.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Donald Renard Taylor, 50, of Dunbar, was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 31, 2023, Taylor sold 104.63 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $850. Taylor admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling 27.71 grams of methamphetamine for $240 on June 14, 2023, and 55.75 grams of methamphetamine for $440 on July 13, 3023, to the confidential informant. All three transactions occurred in Dunbar.

On August 2, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Taylor’s Dunbar residence and seized 139.7 grams of methamphetamine, over 200 grams of fentanyl, 544.8 grams of cocaine and $19,479. Officers also seized six firearms: a Highpoint 9mm pistol, a Bearman .38-caliber pistol, a F.I.E. Corp .25-caliber pistol, a Glock L9 9mm pistol, a Taurus GX4 9mm pistol, and a Davis Industries .25-caliber pistol.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department, and the assistance provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum 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. 2:24-cr-44.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tyron Charles Kimbro, also known as “T-Mow,” 42, of Huntington, was sentenced on Monday, February 9, 2026, to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, also known as “crack.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2025, Kimbro sold approximately 55.6 grams of crack to a confidential informant. As part of his guilty plea, Kimbo admitted to the transaction, to arranging it beforehand, and to conducting it at his Huntington residence.

Kimbo also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On April 8, 2025, Kimbro sold approximately 27.4 grams of crack to a confidential informant. Kimbro admitted to the transaction and to conducting it at his residence.

On April 22, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Kimbro’s residence and seized approximately 36 grams of crack, a quantity of fentanyl, five firearms, and approximately $2,200. Kimbro admitted that the seized cash was drug proceeds.

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

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor 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. 3:25-cr-102.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Matthew Robert Hudson, 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty on Monday, February 9, 2026, to distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 23, 2025, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hudson in Huntington. Officers searched the vehicle and seized approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine found in the handbag of Hudson’s passenger. As part of his guilty plea, Hudson admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine, asked his passenger to hold the methamphetamine for him, and intended to sell the methamphetamine in exchange for money.

Hudson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work 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 Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-195.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Donovan Dewayne Pauley, 20, of Huntington, was sentenced today to four years of federal probation for possession of a short-barreled shotgun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 22, 2025, Pauley sold a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun to a confidential informant in Huntington for $200. The shotgun has an approximate barrel length of 13 and 15/16 inches. This type of firearm is commonly referred to as a short-barreled shotgun and is required to be registered under the National Firearms Act. As part of his guilty plea, Pauley admitted that the firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent 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. 3:25-cr-157.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Alante Omar Allen, also known as “Suey,” 33, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 31, 2022, Allen sold approximately 20.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,300 while at a business on U.S. Route 60 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Allen admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.

Allen is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-159.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Tiwan Robert Bailey was sentenced to 25 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for leading a sex trafficking conspiracy that operated in the Charleston and Rand areas of Kanawha County and Carrie Roy was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for her role in the conspiracy.

Bailey, also known as “Quick,” 49, and Roy, also known as “Carrie Ash,” 52, both of Charleston, were found guilty by a federal jury after a five-day trial. Evidence at trial showed that between November 2023 and July 2024, Bailey trafficked four different female victims, including a 17-year-old girl, requiring each to engage in commercial sex acts and provide all the money they received to him. Bailey also obstructed the federal investigation of the sex trafficking conspiracy by seeking to interfere with any potential cooperation and testimony by the minor female victim.

Bailey coerced his adult victims through repeated acts of violence, including sexual assaults and physical beatings. Bailey reinforced this control through threats he issued to his victims in person and through voice messages, texts, and Facebook Messenger. Bailey supplied drugs to the victims suffering from addiction and withheld drugs from them as punishment.

“This defendant inflicted pain, violence, and abuse upon his victims to dehumanize and control them. He raped them. He beat them. He threatened them,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Bailey went beyond exploiting their vulnerabilities with a sustained campaign of terror. Accountability should reflect that reality. Our office agreed with the Sentencing Commission guidelines that Bailey’s egregious crimes warranted life in prison. While this community will be protected from this thug for at least 25 years, in our view this sentence does not fully reflect the gravity of that harm or the years of suffering inflicted by the defendant’s actions.”

Roy aided and abetted Bailey and conspired with him in the trafficking of the minor female. Roy also transported the three adult victims to and from meetings for commercial sex acts and collected money from these acts for Bailey.

Bailey became a fugitive after a warrant for his arrest was issued in the case on July 23, 2024. The United States Marshals Service (USMS) captured Bailey on January 17, 2025, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Bailey has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for the manufacture and delivery of narcotics and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base.

The jury found Bailey and Roy guilty of one count each of sex trafficking of a minor and conspiring to commit sex trafficking of a minor. The jury also found Bailey guilty of three counts of sex trafficking by force or coercion and one count of obstruction of justice.

Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Charleston Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office for their investigative work in this case, and the assistance provided by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the West Virginia Fusion Center.

“This case demonstrates the serious harm caused by human trafficking and the deliberate actions of Bailey and Roy to exploit vulnerable individuals, including a minor,” said Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Washington, D.C. “Through close collaboration with our law enforcement partners, HSI conducted a thorough investigation that led to their arrest and conviction. Upholding our mission to protect the public and dismantle criminal organizations, HSI remains committed to pursuing justice for victims and holding offenders accountable.”

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Jennifer D. Gordon 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. 2:24-cr-118.

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Video of the press conference held on February 9, 2026, to announce the sentencings is available on the YouTube channel of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMRwynjRVU

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito will hold a press conference on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. with law enforcement officials following the sentencing hearings for Tiwan Robert Bailey and Carrie Roy.

Bailey is scheduled to be sentenced on three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, one count of conspiring to commit sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of obstruction of justice. Roy is scheduled to be sentenced on one count each of sex trafficking of a minor and conspiring to commit sex trafficking of a minor. A federal jury convicted Bailey, also known as “Quick,” 49, and Roy, also known as “Carrie Ash,” 52, both of Charleston, on September 29, 2025, following a five-day trial.

*** NOTE: The press conference is contingent upon the completion of the sentencing hearings, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. ***

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Monday, February 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston, Fourth Floor, Suite 4000

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. – Antonio Shelby Jr., 33, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced on Thursday, February 5, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

A federal jury found Shelby guilty of both counts on August 19, 2025, following a two-day trial. Evidence at trial showed that on January 10, 2024, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Shelby in the Institute area of Kanawha County. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, asked Shelby to exit the vehicle, and told him that the vehicle would be searched. Shelby fled in the vehicle, driving at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour on West Virginia Route 25 and Interstate 64 while trying to elude law enforcement.

The pursuit ended when Shelby crashed his vehicle while attempting to exit I-64 at South Charleston. Officers encountered Shelby climbing out of the vehicle and detained him. When officers lifted Shelby from the ground, they found a Keltec model P3 AT .380-caliber pistol, loaded and with a round in the chamber, on the ground underneath him. Officers also seized over 60 grams of methamphetamine in multiple baggies, over 100 grams of fentanyl, marijuana, digital scales, and $2,495 from the vehicle.

Shelby has a criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for fleeing from a police officer and reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function.

“This defendant possessed and transported distribution-level quantities of lethal drugs into our community while armed. He doubled down on his disregard for our people and their safety by fleeing from law enforcement, creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to the public and responding officers,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “We are unrelenting in our commitment to attacking the drug crisis with the utmost toughness.”

Capito commended the law enforcement agencies involved in apprehending Shelby, investigating the case, and securing the convictions at trial: the Nitro Police Department, the Dunbar Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-197.

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