Southern District of West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County man pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography.

According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Marvin Wayne Akers, 40, admitted that on December 21, 2016, he used his Facebook account to communicate with a person living in the Philippines and asked to see “her.”  In response, Akers received two images and a video that he knew were child pornography or images depicting children under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

Akers faces at least five years and up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 16, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). 

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Blackwell and Jennifer Rada Herrald are handling the prosecution.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.  Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-000174.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Three Charleston men pleaded guilty this week to federal drug charges. Dante Williams, 24, Darius Coles, 23, and Joshua Lawson, 31, were indicted in February 2021 in connection with a long-term investigation dubbed the “Woo Boyz.”

According to court documents, Williams admitted that on January 14, 2021, he sold two ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with law enforcement.  Williams arranged to first meet the informant in the parking lot of the Family Dollar store on Charleston’s West Side, but then directed the informant to follow him to Swinburn Street where the transaction took place.  Williams also admitted that he fronted the informant an additional two ounces of methamphetamine for which Williams would be paid later.  Williams pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on September 23, 2021.

Coles admitted that on January 27, 2021, he met a confidential informant at the Go-Mart near Bigley Avenue in Charleston to collect $1,200 for an outstanding drug debt.  Coles collected the $1,200 and fronted the confidential informant an additional amount of methamphetamine to be paid for later. Coles pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 9, 2021.

According to Lawson’s plea agreement and statements made in court, after Lawson left a meeting with his methamphetamine source of supply on December 27, 2020, officers with the Charleston Police Department conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle in the 600 block of Ruffner Avenue.  An officer performed a pat down of Lawson and found an ounce of methamphetamine hidden in his groin area.  Lawson admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine.  Lawson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 9, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the U.S. Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police. The Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) provided critical support to the investigative agencies.

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

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00032 (Williams, et al.).

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two defendants charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave” were sentenced this week to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Larry Terrence Martin, 31, of St. Albans and Carol Lynn Belton, 62, of Montgomery were sentenced to 151 months and 15 months in prison, respectively.

According to court documents, Martin previously admitted distributing more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 60 pounds of marijuana between January 2018 and August 26, 2020 to both dealers and users in and around Kanawha County, West Virginia.  Martin also admitted recruiting a U.S. Postal Service employee to deliver drug packages to him that had been sent to residences along the mail carrier’s route.  Belton previously admitted distributing approximately seven ounces of methamphetamine in Montgomery, West Virginia.

This case was part of operation “Second Wave,” a long-term investigation of a drug trafficking ring involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin,  marijuana, and THC products. More than a dozen individuals have been charged in federal court as part of the investigation. All have pled guilty.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Charleston Police Department.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00154 (Martin et al).

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Montgomery man charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave” was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., 73, pleaded guilty in December and admitted to working with his son, Sammy Joe Fragale II, also known as “Bubby Fragale,” to distribute methamphetamine in Montgomery and St. Albans.  Between February and August 2020, Fragale sold more than 100 grams of ICE methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Earlier this year, Bubby Fragale was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the DEA. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is handling the prosecution. 

This case was part of operation “Second Wave,” a long-term investigation of a drug trafficking ring involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin,  marijuana, and THC products. More than a dozen individuals have been charged in federal court as part of the investigation. All have pled guilty. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Charleston Police Department conducted the “Second Wave” investigation

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:20-cr-00184 (Fragale, Sr.);and 2:20-cr-00176 (Fragale, II).

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Michigan man caught selling drugs in Huntington last year was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin.

According to court documents, Steven McGee, 51, admitted that on February 24, and March 10, 2020, he directed the distribution of heroin and fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington.  McGee also admitted that he previously distributed methamphetamine to an informant on June 26, 2019, also in Huntington.   

Acting United States Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00170.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Hurricane man pleaded guilty today to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Derrick Lee Racer, 38, admitted that in the early morning hours of March 2, 2020, he was riding a bicycle through St. Albans and had a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver on his person. An officer with the St. Albans Police Department stopped Racer because he was not wearing a helmet, in violation of city ordinances. Racer admitted that he had the firearm and that he knew he should not be carrying it due to a 2005 felony conviction for attempted distribution of marijuana in Putnam County Circuit Court. At the time of the stop, Racer’s rights to possess a firearm had not been restored.

Racer faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 8, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00095.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Los Angeles, California man pleaded guilty today to federal drug charges.

According to court documents and statement made in court, Troyvon Lewis, also known as “B.C.,” 32, traveled from Los Angeles, California to Huntington, West Virginia to sell methamphetamine and marijuana.  Lewis also admitted that he arranged the drug deal over the telephone and agreed to deliver approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of marijuana to an individual in Huntington.  On March 28, 2021, the day the drug deal was to take place, Troopers with the West Virginia State Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Lewis was a passenger on I-64 in Cabell County.  The Troopers seized seven pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of marijuana from the trunk of the vehicle.  Lewis admitted he intended to sell the controlled substances to an individual in Huntington.

Lewis pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and marijuana and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and marijuana. Lewis faces 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on September 7, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West and the West Virginia State Police.  

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00054.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio man pleaded guilty today to distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

According to court documents, Lamark Glover, 22, admitted that, on June 20, 2019, he distributed an ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Charleston, West Virginia.  Glover admitted that when he was arrested on September 22, 2019 in Charleston, agents located a number of items in his vehicle including methamphetamine, fentanyl and a loaded .40 caliber pistol equipped with a 30 round magazine.  Glover admitted that he intended to distribute the drugs and that he possessed the pistol to protect himself from other drug dealers and drug users.  Glover further admitted that he and others participated in a conspiracy between July and September of 2019 to distribute methamphetamine that was frequently shipped from Akron, Ohio to various locations in West Virginia.  During the conspiracy, Glover received quantities of methamphetamine that he would distribute in the Charleston area.  Some of Glover’s customers redistributed the methamphetamine to other drug users throughout the district. 

Glover faces a mandatory minimum of at least five years and up to 40 years in federal prison for the drug charge and an additional mandatory minimum of five  years and up to life in federal prison for the gun charge when he is sentenced on September 7, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.

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

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. 3:19-cr-000246.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. –   Aurelius Edmonds, 37, of Vienna was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. 

According to court documents, Edmonds admitted that he and co-defendants Terrence McGuirk and Antoine Terry together agreed to purchase methamphetamine and cocaine from a source of supply in Phoenix, Arizona in August 2018.  Edmonds traveled to Phoenix to purchase the drugs and make arrangements with Todd Land and Troy Pastorino to ship them to Dayton, Ohio where he, Terry and McGuirk would take possession of the shipment. Police learned of the deal and intercepted the shipment in a traffic stop of Troy Pastorino in Dayton, Ohio on September 19, 2018.  Edmonds, Terry and Land were arrested at a night club where they were awaiting word from Pastorino that the shipment was ready for pickup.  McGuirk was arrested in his nearby hotel room.  The shipment contained 121 pounds of ICE methamphetamine and 6 kilograms of cocaine.  Edmonds admitted his intent to distribute the cocaine in Ohio and return to Parkersburg with the proceeds.  For their roles in the drug conspiracy, Terry and McGuirk received sentences of 10 years and 25 years in prison, respectively. 

Of the other defendants charged in federal court, Todd Land, Jeffrey Hoyler, Nicholas Easton, T.J. Gibson, Edward Marks, Amy Rake, Marshall Polan, Troy Pastorino, Michael Holley, Colleen Moyle, Amanda Atkinson, and Michael Rhodes have been sentenced.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Parkersburg Police Department, the Dayton (Ohio) Police Department and the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crime Task Force.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Hanks and Jeremy Wolfe are handling the prosecution.

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. 2:18-cr-00225.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. –  Shaun Price, 41, of Parkersburg pleaded guilty today to federal drug and gun crimes.

According to court documents, on December 7, 2020 an officer with the South Charleston Police Department attempted a traffic stop on Price’s vehicle in Cross Lanes.  Price fled and led law enforcement in a high speed pursuit.  The pursuit began in Cross Lanes and ended in South Charleston where officers were able to stop Price’s vehicle by using spike-strips.  Officers recovered approximately 7.85 grams of  meth and a loaded 9mm Taurus PT111 handgun from the vehicle. Price admitted that he intended to sell the methamphetamine and that he possessed the firearm to protect his drugs and money.

Price pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison when sentenced on September 2, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the South Charleston Police Department.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00051.

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Victims Defrauded of at Least $2.5 Million

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Three indictments returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Charleston have been unsealed that charge nine men for their involvement in illegal schemes alleged to have defrauded at least 200 victims, many of whom are elderly, of at least $2.5 million.  The nine defendants are charged with various fraud-related crimes, including mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and receipt of stolen property.  As of today, all nine of the defendants have been apprehended in operations executed by the United States Secret Service and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in seven states.

According to the indictments, from 2016 to 2020, the defendants allegedly participated in a series of romance and other online scams designed to coerce vulnerable victims into sending money to various bank accounts controlled by them.  The indictments describe romance scams as online schemes that target individuals looking for romantic partners, friendship, and other close personal and business relationships on dating websites and other social media platforms. The defendants created profiles using fictitious names, locations, and images which allowed them to cultivate relationships with the victims.  To carry out the schemes alleged in the indictments, victims were often led to believe that the defendants were U.S. residents working abroad.  However, the investigation revealed that these defendants were actually located in the United States. At the early stages of the romance scams, defendants frequently requested relatively small gifts, such as gift cards and cell phones from their victims.  As the relationships continued, they requested increasingly larger sums of money from their victims. The defendants allegedly opened bank accounts and laundered the proceeds of the romance scams through those accounts. The defendants also occasionally used cryptocurrency and celebrity meet-and-greet scams to obtain money from their victims.

“This investigation and subsequent indictments demonstrate the commitment the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners have in aggressively pursuing those who engage in online fraud scams and prey on vulnerable members of our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “Crimes involving romance scams and other online scams are increasing at an alarming rate. This case is a reminder that users of email, texts and social media should be aware of such scams and exercise extreme caution.”

“The Secret Service is committed to protecting our nation’s financial institutions and the citizens of West Virginia,” said United States Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Robert W. Pyle. “While this does not undo the harm that was brought upon each victim, we feel that our investigative efforts ensure that those who committed this fraud will be held accountable. We would also like to thank the West Virginia State Police, the South Charleston Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FDIC-OIG for their cooperation and partnership in this case.”

The following individuals were charged in the indictments:

• Kenneth Emeni, 29, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in Martinsburg, West Virginia;

• John Nassy, 27, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in a suburb of Washington, D.C.;

• Kenneth Ogudu, also known as Kenneth Lee, 28, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in Columbus, Ohio;

• Oluwagbenga Harrison, 30, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in Stone Mountain, Georgia;

• Romello Thorpe, 25, a United States citizen, residing in Washington, D.C.;

• Ouluwabamishe Awolesi, also known as Oluwabamise Johnson, 28, a citizen of Nigeria and the United States, residing in Beltsville, Maryland;

• Augustine Amechi, 24, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in Huntington, West Virginia;

• Banabas Ganidekam, 24, a citizen of Ghana, residing in Westerville, Ohio; and

• Abdul Osumanu, 26, a citizen of Ghana, residing in Omaha, Nebraska.

The United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), the West Virginia State Police, the South Charleston Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia conducted the long-term investigation that spanned approximately two years.

The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams at https://www.ic3.gov/.

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

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:21-cr-00068 (Emeni, et al), 3:21-cr-00069 (Amechi) and 3:21-cr-00071 (Osumanu, et al).

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –  Seneca Smith, 36, of Huntington was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.

According to court documents, on January 12, 2021, officers with the Huntington Police Department executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence in Huntington.  Officers seized approximately 206 grams of heroin, 62 grams of cocaine, four sets of digital scales and a drug press.  Smith admitted he intended to sell the heroin and cocaine.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announced and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor handled the prosecution.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00004.

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A federal jury convicted a West Virginia doctor Thursday for prescribing a buprenorphine product in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sriramloo Kesari, M.D., 78, of Charleston distributed the drug Suboxone outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Kesari, who was at times physically located in California, operated a cash-only operation whereby he would sign prescriptions that his employee would distribute in exchange for cash payments. Although Suboxone is approved as a drug for treating opioid addiction, Kesari provided no meaningful addiction treatment and instead, prescribed Suboxone to an undercover DEA agent who was demonstrating clear signs that the Suboxone was being diverted or sold on the street.

Kesari is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 25, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston of the Southern District of West Virginia; and Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

The DEA investigated the case.

Assistant Chief Kilby Macfadden and Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch, Andrew Barras and Maryam Adeyola of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 districts, has charged more than 85 defendants who are collectively responsible for distributing more than 65 million pills. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for approximately $19 billion. In addition, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-Office of Inspector General, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dianne Richardson, 70, of Logan was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for embezzling $222,000 from the Pioneer West Virginia Federal Credit Union in South Charleston. Richardson pleaded guilty to financial institution embezzlement in July 2020 and pursuant to her plea agreement, she will pay $222,000 in restitution.    

According to court documents, for more than five years while an employee of the Pioneer West Virginia Federal Credit Union, Richardson embezzled several thousand dollars every month and manipulated the credit union’s account records to hide the embezzlement. 

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the United States Secret Service and the South Charleston Police Department.   United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Chris R. Arthur handled the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00025.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 11, 2017 Calvin Allen, 44, sold oxycodone to a person who was working with law enforcement as a confidential informant. The drug sale occurred in Allen’s vehicle in the parking lot of Tractor Supply in Oak Hill, Fayette County. 

Allen pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on August 23, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force.  

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-0116.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Terry L. Spradlin, 34, of Clendenin was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on August 31, 2019 officers with the Dunbar Police Department encountered Spradlin before opening hours in Shawnee Park in Dunbar.  Spradlin possessed a firearm which he had strapped in a holster. Spradlin admitted he was in possession of the firearm and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had a prior felony conviction for first degree robbery in Roane County Circuit Court.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Dunbar Police Department.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-0161.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The final two defendants charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave” pleaded guilty this week and admitted their roles in a drug trafficking enterprise operating in and around Charleston and the Upper Kanawha Valley between 2018 and August 2020.  Tonya Simerly, 36, of Montgomery pleaded guilty to traveling in furtherance of a racketeering enterprise.  Steven Matthew Bumpus, 31, of Charleston pleaded guilty to theft of mail matter by a United States Postal employee. 

According to court records and statements made at plea and sentencing hearings in the case, Simerly traveled with Jason Michael Terrell and Roger Drake from Charleston to Columbus, Ohio in March 2020 where they picked up approximately two pounds of methamphetamine that was later sold in Kanawha County.  Simerly drove during portions of the trip. 

Bumpus, a United States Postal Service mail carrier, admitted that he hand delivered packages to Larry Martin that were addressed to residences along Bumpus’ route in Rand.  During Martin’s plea hearing, he admitted receiving methamphetamine and marijuana through the U.S. Mail and to recruiting Bumpus to make sure the packages were delivered to him instead of the addressees.  In June 2020, police intercepted a package containing approximately 13 pounds of marijuana addressed to Elaine Drive in Rand.  Law enforcement officers surveilled the two men and observed Bumpus deliver the package to Martin instead of the address on the package. 

When they are sentenced on September 8, 2021, both Simerly and Bumpus face up to five years in federal prison.

Of the other defendants charged as a result of the Second Wave investigation, Jason Michael Terrell was sentenced last week to 14 years in prison, Larry Martin, Roger Jarea Drake, Carol Belton, Craig Redman, and Rashawn Miller have entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.  Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr. pled guilty in December 2019 to distribution of methamphetamine and is scheduled for sentencing in June 2021.  Jimmy Coleman was sentenced last month to three years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Ronald Lee Thomas, III pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.  Gregory Woods was sentenced in February to 184 months after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and violating the terms of his federal supervised release.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of all the law enforcement agencies involved in the case.  The long-term investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force (CWVDTF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is handling the prosecution. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00064 (Bumpus) and 2:20-cr-00154 (Terrell et al).

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Brandon Quane Hudson, 36, of Macon, Georgia was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, also known as crack, and methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Hudson will serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.

According to court documents, on August 20, 2019, members of the Huntington Violent Crime Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Hudson’s residence in Huntington and located approximately 17.41 grams of cocaine base, also known as crack, and four grams of methamphetamine. Hudson, also known as “Blade” and “Blazer,” admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine and crack for money. Officers also located a Ruger EC9s, 9mm pistol and 8 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which Hudson admitted were in his possession. Hudson knew he was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department, the Huntington Violent Crime Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Cremeans handled the prosecution.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00093.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Detroit man pleaded guilty today to federal drug and gun charges. 

According to court documents, on October 21, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the hotel room rented by Darryl Eric Hill, 37, at the Double Tree Hotel in Huntington.  Hill was present in the room during the search and officers seized heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine base, over $19,000 and a loaded 9mm pistol.  Hill admitted that he had stayed at the hotel for several weeks and that he had been selling the drugs in and around the Huntington area.  Hill also admitted that he kept the firearm with him to protect himself based on his status as a drug dealer.   

Hill pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the drug charge, and a consecutive sentence of 5 years to life in federal prison on the gun charge, when he is sentenced on August 23, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00072.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Four men charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave” appeared in federal court this week.  Jason Michael Terrell, 37, of Mount Carbon was sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.  Ronald Lee Thomas, III, 29,  of  Charleston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.  Roger Jarea Drake, 32, of Charleston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and Craig Redman, 42, of Kimberly pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 

According to court records and statements made at plea and sentencing hearings in the case, the defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization operating in Charleston and the upper Kanawha Valley from at least August 2018 until the federal arrests on August 26, 2020.  Terrell was identified as a multi-pound methamphetamine dealer operating in and around Montgomery. Larry Martin and Roger Drake were multi-pound methamphetamine dealers operating in and around Charleston.  Martin also distributed large quantities of marijuana during the time of the conspiracy.  Terrell and Drake, accompanied by Tonya Simerly traveled to Columbus, Ohio in March 2020 where they met Rashawn Miller who connected them with a supplier who sold them approximately two pounds of methamphetamine.  Martin had other sources of supply and provided methamphetamine or marijuana to Drake and Thomas, among others.  Terrell supplied methamphetamine to dealers in the upper Kanawha Valley including Craig Redman, Carol Belton, and Jimmy Coleman.

When they are sentenced in September, Thomas faces up to five years, Redman faces up to 20 years, and Drake faces 10 years to life in federal prison.

Martin, Belton, and Miller have entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.  Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr. pled guilty in December 2019 to distribution of methamphetamine and is scheduled for sentencing in June.  Jimmy Coleman was sentenced last month to three years in federal prison. Gregory Woods was sentenced in February to 184 months after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and violating the terms of his federal supervised release.

Tonya Simerly and Steven Bumpus are scheduled to plead guilty to their roles in the drug trafficking organization next week.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of all the law enforcement agencies involved in the case.  The long-term investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force (CWVDTF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the United States Postal Service-Office of Inspector General.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is handling the prosecution. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00045 (Miller), 2:20-cr-00153 (Woods), 2:20-cr-00184 (Fragale Sr.), 2:20-cr-00176 (Fragale, Jr.), 2:21-cr-00064 (Bumpus), and 2:20-cr-00154 (Terrell et al).

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Ricky V. McLaughlin, 63, of Belpre, Ohio was sentenced to 87 months in prison for wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay over $700,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, McLaughlin operated the McLaughlin Motor Car Museum located in Parkersburg. For more than four years, McLaughlin stole money and defrauded 17 customers of more than $1 million through a wire fraud scheme. McLaughlin sold collector cars, including various Pontiac Trans Am classic cars to individuals. Also, some customers sold their collector cars to McLaughlin for restoration and other customers bought collector cars from McLaughlin and the Motor Car Museum and then ask him to resell these collector cars at a later date on consignment. During his fraud scheme, McLaughlin would sometimes sell individuals Pontiac Trans Am classic cars but refused to provide the customers with either the titles to the vehicles or the vehicles themselves. At times, McLaughlin would sell the same Pontiac Trans Am to multiple customers, while at other times, McLaughlin would sell the Pontiac Trans Am cars on consignment but refused to send the sale proceeds of the collector cars to the car owners.

Acting United States Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson is handling the prosecution.

United States District Court Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00182.

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Charleston, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime.

According to court documents, Andrew Troy Tanner, 38, admitted that on September 17, 2018, he met with a confidential informant to sell methamphetamine. Tanner contacted his supplier while he was with the confidential informant to obtain the methamphetamine. Tanner admitted that he facilitated the distribution of approximately 13 grams of methamphetamine to the confidential informant.

Tanner pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine and faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on August 25, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Cremeans is handling the prosecution.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-0152.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tyson Davis, Sr., 42, of Huntington pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, on April 17, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a 9th Avenue residence in Huntington and found Davis seated on the couch.  Officers recovered a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol from under a cushion on the couch. Officers also located distribution amounts of a heroin and fentanyl mixture and methamphetamine. Later in a Mirandized interview, Davis admitted to possessing the firearm.

Davis faces a minimum mandatory five years in prison when sentenced on August 16, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and R. Gregory McVey are handling the prosecution.

The Huntington Violent Crime Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation.  

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

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. 3:19-cr-0140.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Aubrey Gardner, 28, of Huntington pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on February 8, 2021, Gardner was a passenger in a vehicle that officers with the Huntington Police Department pulled over in the 2800 block of 8th Avenue.  The officers found a firearm in the waistband of Gardner’s pants.  Gardner was prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law because of a 2018 federal conviction in the Southern District of West Virginia for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

Gardner faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 16, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution.

The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation.  United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00049.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime. 

According to court documents, Brandon William Jones, 42, admitted that on October 29, 2020, a confidential informant working with law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 10.8 grams of suspected heroin for $1000 from Jones in the parking lot of 3090 16th Street Road in Huntington. After meeting the confidential informant, officers followed Jones to the area of 1584 Hal Greer Boulevard and arrested him. Officers found additional suspected heroin on Jones and the $1000 used in the controlled purchase. Jones also admitted that he was responsible for selling at least 20 kilograms of heroin in the Huntington area.

Jones pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin and faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on August 16, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey is handling the prosecution.

The Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00029.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug charge.

According to court documents, on December 18, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Beaver residence of Frederick Van-Horn, 42, and found a 9mm handgun, ammunition, $1,697 in U.S. currency and cocaine base.  Van-Horn admitted that he possessed more than 23 grams of “crack” cocaine and to having sold fentanyl to confidential informants.

Van-Horn pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base and faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 27, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner is prosecuting the case.

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00052.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Boone County woman pleaded guilty today to a federal methamphetamine charge.

According to court documents, Sherri Hill, 57, admitted that she possessed more than 100 grams of methamphetamine on June 25, 2020, on U.S. 119 in Boone County.  Law enforcement officers stopped Hill shortly after she purchased the methamphetamine.  Hill was subsequently interviewed and admitted to having dealt methamphetamine for several years throughout the state.   

Hill pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years in prison when she is sentenced on August 18, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the DEA.  Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner is prosecuting the case.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-0194.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A federal jury convicted an Ohio man today of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor. Makel Elboghdady, 36, of Columbus, Ohio, was charged by a single-count Indictment in May 2020.

Evidence at trial revealed that Elboghdady traveled on February 28, 2020 from Columbus, Ohio to Huntington to meet a woman in order to engage in sexual activity with her purported minor daughters. Elboghdady believed the girls were 11 and 13 years old.  When he arrived in Huntington and met with the person he believed to be the mother of the girls, Elboghdady was placed under arrest.

Elboghdady faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 16, 2021. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.  

“Thanks to a proactive investigation in this case by the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and our commitment to combatting child sexual exploitation, Elboghdady was charged and convicted of traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor. This case should serve as a warning to offenders that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will work together to hold you accountable and bring you to justice,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the trial.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Julie White handled the prosecution.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00069.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Detroit, Michigan man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kaleb Wuopio, 26, was involved in a drug distribution enterprise operating in Kanawha County from April through June 2018. Wuopio admitted that he distributed fentanyl, heroin and cocaine base in exchange for cash during that timeframe. On June 21, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Wuopio’s Charleston residence. During the search, the officers located heroin, cash proceeds from drug sales, other drug distribution tools, such as scales, and two loaded handguns.

Wuopio pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on August 19, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Tessman and Negar M. Kordestani are handling the prosecution.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00115.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Antoine Miller, 36, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to a federal gun crime. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller admitted that on April 28, 2020, he possessed a Ruger 9 mm handgun at Renaissance Circle in Charleston. Miller is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of a prior federal Hobbs Act conspiracy conviction, for which he spent over 10 years in federal prison.

Miller pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 7, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Steve Loew is handling the prosecution.

The Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00092.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Illinois man pleaded guilty today to sending a threatening message through social media to a West Virginia law enforcement officer.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 8, 2019, Rodney Hanson, 37, sent a threatening Facebook message to a law enforcement officer in Putnam County after a police involved shooting.

Hanson pleaded guilty to transmitting an interstate threatening communication and faces a maximum of five years in prison when sentenced on August 9, 2021.

Johnston made the announcement and praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00169.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. –  Mountaineer Drug, Inc. (“MDI”), which operated a pharmacy in Whitesville, Boone County, has agreed to pay civil monetary penalties to resolve allegations that the pharmacy violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by filling illegitimate prescriptions.  MDI ceased operations at the Whitesville location in October 2019 during the course of the federal investigation.  Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, MDI agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations that from in or about January 2015 to in or about January 2019, the pharmacy filled prescriptions for Schedule II and Schedule III controlled substances from the Whitesville location that were not valid. The United States contends that during this time MDI filled these prescriptions “knowing or having reason to know that they were not written for a legitimate purpose in violation of 21 C.F.R. §§ 1306.04(a) and 1306.06 and 21 U.S.C. § 842(a)(1),” according to the settlement agreement. The CSA prohibits the distribution or dispensing of a controlled substance without a valid prescription.  A valid prescription for a controlled substance must be issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting in the usual course of his or her practice. Based on the investigation, the United States maintains that MDI’s pharmacists knew or had reason to know that patients had presented illegitimate prescriptions that should not have been filled. 

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of West Virginia is committed to putting an end to drug diversion and to working with our partners at DEA and HHS-OIG to hold all DEA registrants accountable,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston.    

“As our nation reels from a staggering rise in overdose deaths, the Drug Enforcement Administration remains committed to stopping those unscrupulous medical professionals who put personal greed above patient care,” said Special Agent in Charge Todd Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division. 

“Pharmacists play an important role in health care and are expected to review prescriptions carefully,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG). “We will continue to work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA to investigate allegations of illegitimate prescriptions.”

The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Alan G. McGonigal and Gregory P. Neil.

The settlement is a result of the United States Attorney’s Healthcare Fraud Abuse, Recovery and Response Team (ARREST), an innovative approach linking civil and criminal enforcement efforts together in a comprehensive attack on the opioid epidemic and healthcare fraud. 

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 Police Officer Cassie Marie Johnson’s name added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In honor of National Police Week, Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state and, local, and Tribal law enforcement.  This year, the week is observed Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021. 

“This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said Attorney General Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”

“I am extremely grateful for the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect all of us.  I thank each of them for their daily sacrifices,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Johnston.  “During National Police Week we recognize and pay tribute to the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.  I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the families of West Virginia officers Cassie Marie Johnson and Levin Oliver Zimmerman, whose names were inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.  I know the entire Charleston community still mourns the loss of Charleston Police Officer Cassie Johnson, a close friend and colleague who was killed in the line of duty in December 2020. Her death was a true tragedy, and a reminder that all investigations have risk.” 

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.

During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored.  Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60 percent succumbed to COVID-19. Here in the Southern District of West Virginia, one law enforcement officer died in the line of duty in 2020. Among the 394 names of law enforcement officers added this year to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., are two West Virginia law enforcement officers – Charleston Police Officer Cassie Marie Johnson (EOW 12/03/2020) and Great Cacapon Constable Levin Oliver Zimmerman (EOW 12/02/1955).

Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020.  LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website. 

The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm EDT. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to October 13-17, 2021. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for October 14, 2021.

Those who wish to view the Virtual Candlelight Vigil on May 13, 2021, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF. The FOP’s Roll Call of Heroes can be viewed at www.fop.net. To view the schedule of virtual Police Week events in May, please view NLEOMF’s Police Week Flyer.   

To learn more about National Police Week in-person events scheduled for October, please visit www.policeweek.org.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty today to travel in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor. Gregory Thomas O’Connor, 47, of Stahlstown, Pennsylvania was charged by a single-count Information in April 2021.

According to the plea agreement, O’Connor admitted that on August 7, 2020, he initiated contact with a person on a Kik Messaging group for West Virginia teens. Believing a person to be a 13-year-old girl from Beckley, O’Connor engaged in conversations over the next six weeks wherein he told the minor he wanted to meet her to engage in sexual activity. O’Connor also coached her on masturbation and watching pornography in order to prepare for their sexual encounter. On September 2, 2020, O’Connor intended to travel to Beckley to meet the minor. He drove from Pennsylvania to Fairmont, but then had to turn around due to a work emergency. Following that time, he continued to discuss traveling at a future date to meet the girl for sexual activity.

If the plea agreement is accepted by the Court, O’Connor will be sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release when he is sentenced in September 2021. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.  

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling the prosecution.

The FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force handled the investigation.  United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. 

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00073.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayette County man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, on December 3, 2015, Eddie McKinney, 33, of Mt. Hope, distributed child pornography using peer-to-peer file sharing software on his computer. He also admitted that he knowingly possessed and distributed to others images depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On March 23, 2016, law enforcement officers recovered hundreds of images of child pornography, including prepubescent child pornography, from his home. McKinney pleaded guilty to the charge in February 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White handled the prosecution.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. 

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00142.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Wood County man, Evan Rockwell McEwuen, 24, of Vienna, pleaded guilty today to federal drug and gun charges.

According to court documents, a search warrant was executed at McEwuen’s residence in Vienna on August 5, 2020.  McEwuen was located in the residence at the time of the search and law enforcement officers found 149 grams of methamphetamine, over $14,000 in United States currency, plastic baggies, digital scales and four firearms in the room where McEwuen was located.  One firearm was loaded and was equipped with a device designed to convert the firearm into a machine gun.  A subsequent inspection confirmed that the firearm was successfully converted into a machine gun and was capable of fully automatic fire.  Officers also found approximately 143 grams of additional methamphetamine along with a sawed-off shotgun, plastic baggies and digital scales in a truck and construction trailer parked outside of McEwuen’s residence.  In total, officers located over 2000 rounds of ammunition during the execution of the search warrant.  McEwuen admitted to possessing all the evidence located in the residence and also admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to others.  He was not legally permitted to possess firearms due to a 2016 felony conviction in the Circuit Court of Wood County for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. 

McEwuen pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to being a felon in possession of firearms and faces between 15 and 20 years in prison when sentenced on August 18, 2021. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy B. Wolfe and Joshua C. Hanks are handling the prosecution.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation with assistance from the Vienna Police Department, the Parkersburg Police Department, the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00166.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Point Pleasant man pleaded guilty today to a federal child sex trafficking offense.

According to court documents, Dale Randall McCarthy, Jr., 51, admitted that on August 8, 2020, he agreed with a man he met online to pay $100 to have sex with a 14-year-old girl that would be supplied by the other man. McCarthy met with the man at a motel in Dunbar and paid the man $40 up front for sex with the girl, with the remainder to be paid after the sexual activity.  After paying the man $40, McCarthy was placed under arrest.  McCarthy further admitted that he had previously used Craigslist to communicate with minors about meeting for sexual activity. In one such conversation, McCarthy admitted to requesting and receiving a sexually explicit image of a person who stated they were a minor.

McCarthy pleaded guilty to attempted sex trafficking of a minor and faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on August 12,  2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and praised the investigative work of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling the prosecution.

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

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00160.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Cabell County woman pleaded guilty today to a federal drug charge.

According to court documents, on January 9, 2021, Kassie McNeeley, 21, of Lesage, delivered a package of methamphetamine for Myreo Dixon to an individual in an apartment on Crestmont Drive in Charleston. Dixon had directed McNeeley to deliver the package and collect $31,500 as payment for the methamphetamine.  McNeeley utilized her cell phone to maintain contact with Dixon throughout the drug deal by texting him multiple times. When McNeeley left the apartment in her vehicle, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop and seized the $31,500 in drug proceeds.

McNeeley pleaded guilty to use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking and faces up to four years in prison when she is sentenced on August 12, 2021. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is prosecuting the cases.

This case is part of a long-term investigation, dubbed the “Woo Boyz,” which resulted in federal charges against 15 individuals and was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police. The Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) provided critical support to the investigative agencies.

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

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00032.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.

According to court documents, Harold Arthur Thompson, 30, previously admitted that on September 14, 2019, he was in a vehicle that was pulled over by a Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy. During the traffic stop, Thompson exited the vehicle and attempted to conceal a plastic bag that contained 2.9 grams of methamphetamine and 2.5 grams of heroin after he removed it from his pants pocket by kicking it underneath his vehicle. Thompson admitted to possession of the heroin and methamphetamine and that both substances were packaged in individual plastic bags for sale. Thompson also admitted that he possessed digital scales and packaging materials.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. 

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans handled the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00151.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio, man pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy. 

According to court documents, Tionte Lavon Blanchard, 25, admitted that from the fall of 2018 to June 2019, he and others participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine that was frequently shipped from Akron to various locations in West Virginia.  During the conspiracy, Blanchard utilized a residence on 25th Street in Huntington to store methamphetamine after it arrived from Akron.  On June 6, 2019,  investigators executed a search warrant at the residence and seized over 1.7 kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine.  Blanchard admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine and intended to distribute it in the Huntington area. 

Blanchard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and faces a mandatory minimum of at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 9, 2021.

This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. 

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. 3:19-cr-000245.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  Jimmie Lee Coleman, 35, was prosecuted as part of “Operation Second Wave,”  which dismantled a poly-drug network operating in Kanawha and Fayette counties. 

According to court documents, Coleman admitted selling more than a 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine as part of his role in the organization. 

Other defendants, including Carol Belton, Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., Larry Martin, Rashawn Miller, and Jason Terrell have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Gregory Woods was sentenced to 184 months in federal prison on February 8, 2021.  Sammy Joe Fragale, II, was sentenced on January 6, 2021 to 42 months in federal prison.  Steven Matthew Bumpus, Roger Jarea Drake, and  Tonya Simerly are awaiting court dates to enter guilty pleas.  Craig Redman and Ronald Lee Thomas III are scheduled for trial on June 1, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force (CWVDTF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who led the investigation of Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., and Sammy Joe Fragale II, also prosecuted as part of the Second Wave investigation.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00045 (Miller), 2:20-cr-00153 (Woods), and 2:20-cr-00154 (Terrell et al).

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pleaded guilty today to a federal methamphetamine charge.

According to court documents, Deshawn Derese Nelson, 51, admitted that he possessed more than 18 grams of methamphetamine and a small amount of fentanyl on December 26, 2018 on Broadway Avenue in Parkersburg.  Officers with the Parkersburg Police Department stopped Nelson for speeding and found the drugs hidden in the leg of his pants when they arrested him for a capias issued by the Cabell County Circuit Court. 

Nelson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 11, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the Parkersburg Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is prosecuting the case.

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-0062.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston woman was sentenced today to eight months of home confinement and five years of probation for her role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $48,509.

According to court documents, Lois Brotherton, 65, once provided bookkeeping and accounting services to a Kanawha County non-profit organization that formally dissolved in 2014.  In 2019, Lois Brotherton asked her daughter, Misty Brotherton-Tanner, to write her checks from the non-profit’s bank account. Lois Brotherton knew she was not entitled to those funds and that there were no funds available for her use. Misty Brotherton-Tanner agreed to steal the money and provide it to her mother.  Lois Brotherton would receive the checks as though the non-profit organization had paid her money and would then electronically deposit the stolen money into her personal account.  To cover the wire fraud,  Misty Brotherton-Tanner would electronically transfer money from three different companies for which she provided accounting services without the companies’ knowledge, consent, or permission. As a result of this fraud scheme, Lois Brotherton conspired to steal at least $48,509.

Misty Brotherton-Tanner, 41, also of Charleston, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 13, 2021 to two felony counts of wire fraud and one felony count of money laundering.  Brotherton-Tanner’s guilty plea related to this scheme with Lois Brotherton as well as other criminal activity that she was engaged in apart from her mother.  She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2021 and faces up to 50 years in prison, a $750,000 fine and three years of supervised release.  Brotherton-Tanner has also agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $537,173.

Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and praised the investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the West Virginia State Tax Department-Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik Goes and Katie Robeson prosecuted the case.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:20-cr-00147 (Brotherton) and 2:20-cr-00146 (Brotherton-Tanner).

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man pleaded guilty today to distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, Timothy Paul Rapson, 39, admitted to distributing child pornography on December 31, 2019 using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. The investigation further revealed that Rapson possessed over 73,000 images and videos of prepubescent child pornography.

Rapson pleaded guilty to distribution of prepubescent minor child pornography and faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on July 26, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and praised the investigative work of the Parkersburg Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is handling the prosecution.

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

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-000175.

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BLUEFIELD, W.Va. - An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell was sentenced today for possessing a weapon at the correctional facility. Corey Fair, 27, of Indiana, was sentenced to 12 months in prison to run consecutively to the sentence he currently is serving.

According to court documents, on January 26, 2020, Fair possessed a handcrafted weapon known as a shank. A staff member at the prison found the five and one-half inch piece of metal sharpened on one end in Fair’s pocket during a random search.  The staff member then recovered the weapon.  Fair admitted that the shank was designed and intended to be used as a weapon.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation.  Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. 

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. 1:20-cr-000202.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston woman pleaded guilty today to a federal drug charge.

According to court documents, on November 24, 2020, Erica Ratliff, 36, met her drug source of supply at the Family Dollar store on Bigley Avenue and purchased three ounces of methamphetamine. After Ratliff left the parking lot of the Family Dollar store, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on her vehicle.  The officers recovered the methamphetamine that Ratliff had just purchased as well as other controlled substances she had on her person.  Ratliff admitted that she intended to distribute the methamphetamine.

Ratliff pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison when she is sentenced on July 21, 2021. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is prosecuting the cases.

This case is part of a long-term investigation, dubbed the “Woo Boyz,” which resulted in federal charges against 15 individuals and was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police. The Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) provided critical support to the investigative agencies.

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

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

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00033.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Christopher Hall, 43, of Pikeville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to violating the Clean Water Act.

According to court documents, Hall managed the town of Matewan’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), a facility designed to collect and remove domestic sewage sludge from wastewater and then properly treat the wastewater.  After the water is treated and tested, the water can be safely discharged into the Tug Fork River.   The removed sludge is to be dried and then properly disposed in a landfill designated to receive dried sewage sludge.  It is a requirement of the Clean Water Act that the sludge removal process and disposal must be reported every month to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to ensure proper operation of the treatment facility.  As manager of the POTW, Hall was responsible for monitoring the sludge removal and accurately reporting its monthly removal to a landfill.  

On August 20, 2018, Hall falsely reported in a sludge management report that five tons of sludge had been removed from the Matewan POTW, properly dried, and then disposed at a permitted landfill.  In fact, no sludge had been removed from the facility.  Hall admitted to submitting a total of ten false sludge management reports indicating that a total of 55 tons of sludge had been removed from the facility and disposed in the landfill from July 2017 to June 2018.  Hall further admitted that he knew all ten reports were false and that no sludge was disposed of at a landfill when he submitted the false reports.

Hall pleaded guilty to making a false statement on a sludge management report and faces a maximum possible sentence of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and an order of restitution when he is sentenced on July 22, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Criminal Investigations Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. 

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  EPA Attorney Perry McDaniel and Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00048.

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Charleston, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man pleaded guilty today to a federal firearms offense that was charged in an indictment in February 2021. 

According to court documents, Casey Douglas Saunders, 30, was in possession of three semi-automatic pistols and one semi-automatic rifle at his residence in Parkersburg on May 14, 2020.  The firearms were located by law enforcement officers who entered Saunders’ residence in order to arrest him on an outstanding warrant for violating his parole on several prior felony convictions.  Saunders had previously absconded from parole that he was serving pursuant to felony convictions in Wood County Circuit Court for burglary, delivery of a controlled substance and escape.  Saunders’ escape conviction was the result of him stealing and then fleeing in the police vehicle of a law enforcement officer who had attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. Saunders is not legally permitted to possess firearms due to his previous felony convictions.     

Saunders pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced on August 4, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.

The Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Parkersburg Police Department.  United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00014.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Detroit man pleaded guilty today to possessing heroin with the intent to distribute the drug in Raleigh County.  

According to court documents, on December 17, 2020, Martinis Irving, 44, of Detroit Michigan, was stopped on Interstate 77 near Beckley for speeding in a construction zone.   After he was stopped, a drug dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the car being driven by Irving.  Law enforcement officers then obtained a search warrant for the car and discovered approximately 1,100 grams of heroin hidden in the car.  Irving ultimately admitted that the recovered heroin was his and that it was his intent to distribute the heroin within the Southern District of West Virginia.   

Irving pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and faces a mandatory minimum period of at least five years and up to 40 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 6, 2021.   

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement.  Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting the case.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which is comprised of officers from the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley Police Department and the West Virginia State Police, conducted the investigation. 

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00011.

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man was sentenced today to 45 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Isaiah Lamont Shaw, 21, was previously charged as a result of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. 

According to court documents, on October 30, 2019, Shaw met a confidential informant near a shopping center in Raleigh County and sold him more than five grams of methamphetamine.  Shaw sold methamphetamine to the same confidential informant on four other occasions. Each transaction occurred within the Southern District of West Virginia.  The drugs sold by defendant were tested by the DEA Drug Lab which established that the methamphetamine was between 92% and 98% pure.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the FBI and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.  

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution.   United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence.

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. 5:20-cr-00124.

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