Southern District of West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Detroit man was sentenced to prison for federal drug crimes, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Edward King, 30, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. 

“King is the second pill peddler from Michigan sentenced to federal prison this week.  A third was convicted and will be sentenced later.  Out of state drug dealers are the norm in West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We want the world to visit and enjoy West Virginia but the drug dealers are not welcome.  Almost Heaven would be closer to heaven if not for the drug thugs and poison peddlers that violate our communities and our families.” 

King previously admitted that he conspired with another man in April 2015 to distribute oxycodone, specifically, 115 oxycodone 30 mg tablets.   

The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation.   Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is handling the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Boone County man was sentenced to federal prison for a drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Benjamin John Mooney, 42, of Costa was sentenced to 30 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine.  Upon completing his prison sentence, Mooney will serve an additional term of five years of supervised release.

“546 grams. Think about it. 546 grams. It’s a crazy volume of drugs,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Great work by all involved in getting this meth dealer off the streets and away from our families.”

Mooney previously admitted that he sold methamphetamine to a police informant on four occasions between July 20, 2017 and February 22, 2018.  Upon being arrested, Mooney admitted that he had sold approximately 546 grams of methamphetamine during the year prior to October 2018.   

The U.S. 119 Task Force conducted the investigation.   Former Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman handled the prosecution.  Senior United States District John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. 

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that Amy Rake, 39, of Parkersburg, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.  Rake was prosecuted as part of Project Parkersburg – a major takedown and dismantling of a multi-state drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing methamphetamine and heroin. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, the Parkersburg Police Department, the Dayton Ohio Police Department, and the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crime Task Force.  The long-term, joint investigation resulted in at least 29 individuals being charged in federal and state court, the seizure of 121 pounds of ICE methamphetamine, six kilograms of cocaine, 217 grams of heroin, and 290 grams of fentanyl.

“As a result of operations like Project Parkersburg, we have doubled the number of meth prosecutions by my office,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We’re taking down meth trafficking organizations and prosecuting meth dealers like Rake throughout the District.”

Rake pled guilty in February and admitted that she was a street level distributor who received methamphetamine in multiple ounce quantities from her co-defendant Michael Rhodes which she then distributed to smaller dealers and users in and around Parkersburg.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A  Harper Woods, Michigan man was sentenced to federal prison for a drug crime announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Nekko Daniel was sentenced to 21 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.  Daniel was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

“Pill pushers like Daniel feed the flames of the opioid epidemic.  It is tragic,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We are holding them accountable.”

Daniel admitted that in December 2016, a car he was traveling in on Interstate 77 was stopped by police for a traffic violation.   Upon smelling marijuana, police officers searched the car and found 10 grams of marijuana and approximately 540 oxycodone pills.  Daniel admitted that he intended to distribute the oxycodone pills.

The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani handled the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Four Cuban nationals pled guilty to possessing more than 15 fraudulent credit cards with the intent to defraud West Virginians and banks announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. 

“Defrauding our citizens and businesses will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Unfortunately, cases like this are on the rise.  We are working side by side with law enforcement to identify and prosecute fraudsters.”

Daniel Collazo, 28, Yaisel Oquendo-Caballero, 26, Ranniel Acosta, 28, all of Florida and Yaidelys Acosta, 23, of Indiana, pled guilty to possessing more than 15 altered credit cards they used or intended to use to defraud West Virginians and banks. 

Collazo and Oquendo-Cabellero admitted that on December 20, 2019, law enforcement caught them in the act as they used an altered credit card at Rite Aid defrauding a West Virginian citizen.  Law enforcement caught them with more than 15 altered cards in their possession. 

Ranniel and Yaidelys Acosta admitted that between November 19, 2018 and December 20, 2018, they possessed more than 15 altered credit cards with the intent to defraud West Virginia citizens.  The Acostas used the altered cards at Sam’s, Wal-Mart and 7-11 stores in the Kanawha County area.

Each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release when sentenced on March 10, 2020. 

The United States Secret Service, the Charleston Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation.   Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Arthur is handling the prosecution.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Vinton, Virginia, man was sentenced to federal prison for a child pornography offense, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Conner Ray Blevins, 19, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for production of a video of child pornography.  Blevins was also sentenced to serve 25 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender following his release from prison.

“Individuals committing egregious crimes like this should be prepared to do significant time, because we’re coming after you,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “And we’re going to argue for the longest sentences possible.”

Blevins previously admitted that on October 5, 2018, he traveled from his residence in Virginia to West Virginia, where he picked up two minors under the age of 12 with whom he had been communicating with over Facebook. Blevins took the minors to a hotel in Putnam County where he proceeded to record a video depicting himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with one of the minors. Blevins also admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the other minor as well.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Department of Homeland—Security Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling 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.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington woman pled guilty today to a federal drug conspiracy charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Maechelle Relf, 27, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

“Relf is one of seven defendants charged in Operation Free Market,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “During the investigation of this drug network operating between Detroit and Huntington, law enforcement seized approximately 130 grams of fentanyl and 120 grams of heroin.”

Relf admitted that between December 2018 and May 2019 she conspired with other individuals to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Huntington, West Virginia.  Relf admitted that she would travel to Detroit, Michigan to obtain heroin for George Lockhart for him to sell in Huntington. 

Relf faces up to twenty years in federal prison when she is sentenced on February 3, 2020.

Operation Free Market was a long-term drug investigation in the Huntington area.  The investigation was the result of a joint effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.  

The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man pled guilty today to a federal drug conspiracy charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Gerald Robinson, 26, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and Xanax.

“Too many pill peddlers have traveled to West Virginia from Detroit,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We are working with law enforcement partners across jurisdictional borders to identify and prosecute out-of-state drug dealers that bring drugs into our communities.”

Robinson admitted that in April 2017 he came to Huntington, West Virginia with the intent to distribute oxycodone and Xanax.  Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Robinson was a passenger in on Interstate 64.  Officer located over 200 oxycodone pills and 53 Xanax pills. 

Robinson faces up to twenty years in federal prison when he is sentenced on February 3, 2020.

The investigation was conducted by the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.  

The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia and the FBI are teaming up to educate the aging population in the mountain state and their families about the dangers of elder fraud.

Today, United States Attorneys Mike Stuart and Bill Powell, along with FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones, partnered with the AARP to conduct outreach and raise awareness to educate senior citizens about the latest scams so they do not fall victim.  More than 200 seniors in West Virginia had the opportunity to participate in an interactive telephone town hall to learn about the latest financial scams.

“Our seniors are being exploited through grandparent scams, fake prizes, romance scams, fraudulent IRS refunds and deliberate extortion,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “You can rest assured that we are working with our federal, state and local partners to combat all types of elder fraud and to hold the fraudsters accountable.  I will do everything within my power to protect West Virginia’s elderly.” 

“West Virginia’s senior citizens represent a significant but often vulnerable population. They are regular targets of fraudsters and scammers who often cause catastrophic and irreversible financial losses. Attorney General Barr and all United States Attorneys are aggressively pursuing those who prey on our seniors,” said United States Attorney Bill Powell.

Scammers are targeting senior citizens at an alarming rate.  Across the country victims lost $2.71 billion to fraud in 2018 according to statistics collected by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.  West Virginia victims over the age of 60 lost more than $4 million to scams in 2018, nearly quadrupling from losses in 2017.  

"Our seniors did not grow up in a world with technology," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones. "For many, navigating through these advances may be difficult. That's when the predators come in and prey on their vulnerabilities. All of us at the FBI will do everything we can to make sure our seniors are supported and protected from being victims of fraud."

The Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat elder financial exploitation by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors; educate older adults on how to identify scams and avoid getting ripped off by scammers; and promote greater coordination with law enforcement partners.

In March of this year, Attorney General William P. Barr and multiple law enforcement partners including the FBI, announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history.  The Department took action in every federal district across the country, through the filing of criminal or civil cases.  The cases brought during this sweep involved more than 260 defendants from around the globe who victimized more than two million Americans, most of them elderly.  In each case, offenders allegedly engaged in financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors. In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of millions of more dollars than last year, putting the total alleged losses at this year’s sweep at over three fourths of one billion dollars.  For more information about the Elder Justice Initiative, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

 

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Vienna woman pled guilty to gun and drug charges,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Ally Rhiann Propst, 25, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user.

“Federal law prohibits unlawful drug users from possessing firearms,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Drugs and guns are a dangerous combination.  We enforce our gun laws to keep guns out of the wrong hands.”

Propst admitted that on March 6, 2018 she possessed a Glock 9mm pistol that she had obtained from a Parkersburg pawn shop.  Propst’s possession of that weapon was illegal due to her addiction to heroin.  She further admitted that a year later, on March 1, 2019, she possessed approximately 20 grams of heroin she intended to distribute at her Vienna residence.   

Propst faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced on January 16, 2020.

The Parkersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. 

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

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston woman was sentenced to prison for a federal drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.   Stephanie Lawhorn, 39, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. 

“Lawhorn was a poly-drug dealer,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “One by one, we’re sending poison peddlers to federal prison.”

Lawhorn previously admitted that on September 27, 2018, she was stopped by police officers for a traffic violation while driving in Belle, West Virginia.  Officers found 15 grams of fentanyl and 115 grams of methamphetamine in her car, which Lawhorn admitted she intended to sell.   

The Belle Police Department conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Chris R. Arthur is handling the prosecution.

 

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Dunbar drug dealer was sentenced to federal prison for a drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Samuel Manriquez, 34 was sentenced to 15 months in prison for distribution of furanyl fentanyl and U-47700. Furanyl fentanyl is an analog of fentanyl and U-477001 is a synthetic opioid. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (“MDENT”).

“Manriquez was caught selling deadly and powerful drugs on Charleston’s West Side,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We are laser focused and working with a sense of urgency to get drug dealers and their poisons off of our streets.”

Manriquez previously admitted that on May 8, 2017, on Delaware Avenue in Charleston he sold a confidential informant U-47700 and furanyl fentanyl. He also admitted that there was a firearm present during the drug transaction.  Manriquez admitted that on the same date and at the same location, he sold another confidential informant U-47700.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is handling the prosecution.

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

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine was sentenced to federal prison for drug distribution, announced Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston.  Mathew Sisson, 29, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for distributing oxycodone for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the bounds of professional practice. Sisson was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison.

Sisson previously admitted that while holding an education permit granted by the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine, he participated in a training program at the Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) located in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia.  The training program authorized him to practice medicine and prescribe controlled substances within the confines of the program. Sisson acknowledged that his privileges at CAMC and the limited permit issued by the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine did not permit him to issue prescriptions that were not for legitimate medical purposes, and issued outside the course of professional medical practice. 

According to Sisson, he met with an individual on October 17, 2017 in the CAMC lobby and provided a written prescription for 60 oxycodone 30 mg pills to that individual. At the time Sisson provided the prescription, the individual was not a patient of the CAMC program, nor was another physician supervising Sisson at the time.  Sisson admitted that he did not do a physical exam on the individual and that the prescription he provided was not for legitimate medical purposes, and outside the bounds of a professional medical practice.  Sisson also previously admitted to providing prescriptions for controlled substances to individuals who were not patients in CAMC’s program from September 2017 through January 2018. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman handled the prosecution.

United States Attorney Mike Stuart was recused from this prosecution.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio man was sentenced to federal prison for a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Martel Trayvelle Easton, 21, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute carfentanil.  Easton was also ordered to serve a 5 year term of supervised release following completion of his prison sentence.  Carfentanil is a form of fentanyl but 100 times more powerful, and 10,000 times more powerful than morphine.  It is used as an elephant tranquilizer, and is commonly mixed with heroin and known on the street as “pink heroin.”

“One gram of carfentanil could kill 50,000 people. Easton’s arrest may have saved the lives of nearly 10 million people,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “I commend law enforcement for the perilous work they do every single day to remove dangerous drug dealers from our communities.”

Easton previously pled guilty to possessing with intent to distribute over 196 grams of carfentanil and admitted that on February 7, 2018, the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, along with member of the Huntington Police Department, served a search warrant at 1217 10th Avenue in Huntington after seeing drug trafficking activity from that apartment, which was being used a storage house for drugs. Easton was in the apartment when law enforcement entered and ran out the back door while throwing cash. After a brief struggle, Easton was subdued and arrested.  Law enforcement also seized a dealer amount of methamphetamine during the search.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.   Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey handled the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston felon pled guilty to a federal drug and gun crimes today,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Deshaun Thaxton, 24, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

“A felon with 360 grams of meth and loaded machine guns,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Drug dealers like Thaxton pose extreme danger to our communities and law enforcement.  We are working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute gun-toting poison peddlers to put them behind bars,”

Thaxton admitted that he sold methamphetamine on three separate occasions in March and April 2019 to a confidential informant working with law enforcement. On April 5, 2019, officers executed a search warrant at Thaxton’s Dunbar residence and located approximately 360 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also located a CAI Georgiavt AK-47 with a loaded 30 round magazine, an Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 with a loaded 90 round drum, and a Bushmaster AR-15 with a loaded 30 round magazine. Thaxton admitted that he possessed the firearms to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds. He further admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a convicted felon.

Thaxton faces up to life in prison when sentenced on January 23, 2020.

The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation.   Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is handling the prosecution.

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

 

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Two West Virginian business owners pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States regarding their employment taxes and individual income taxes, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Michael B. Stuart for the Southern District of West Virginia. 

According to court documents, Russell and Karen Rucker, a married couple, operated Rucker, Billups and Fowler Inc. (RBF), an insurance agency located in Huntington, West Virginia. Russell Rucker was the president of RBF and since approximately late 2013, Karen Rucker served as a financial officer. Between September 2015 and September 2018, the Ruckers withheld approximately $143,226 in payroll taxes from the wages of RBF’s employees, which they did not pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) despite their obligation to do so. Instead, the Ruckers diverted portions of the withheld funds for their own personal benefit. For instance, from 2014 through 2016 the Ruckers continued to pay themselves over $500,000 in salary. In response to IRS collection efforts and in an attempt to conceal funds from the IRS, the Ruckers deposited money into the bank account of another individual. The Ruckers also attempted to evade IRS levies by using a series of bank accounts that they did not disclose to the IRS and by paying many of their bills, including their mortgage, in cash.

The Ruckers also attempted to evade payment of $114,911 of Russell Rucker’s 2001, 2002, and 2005 individual income taxes by disguising paychecks issued to Russell Rucker as non-taxable “note proceeds.” Additionally, the Ruckers have failed to file their individual income tax returns and RBF’s corporate returns for 2014 through 2017. The intended tax loss caused to the IRS by their conduct is more than $250,000.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 27, 2020. The Ruckers each face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. They also face monetary penalties, a period of supervised release, and restitution.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Stuart commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys Alexander Effendi and Lauren Archer of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting this case.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Texas man was sentenced to federal prison for possession of credit card counterfeiting devices and altered credit cards, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Defendant Tofyk Ali Oro, 32, was sentenced to 14 months in prison and 3 years supervised release for possession of a device to counterfeit credit cards.

“Oro intended to victimize many individuals,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “As a result of the excellent work of U.S. Postal Inspectors and U.S. Secret Service Agents, Oro will be going to federal prison instead of carrying out his fraudulent plans.”

Oro previously admitted that on November 30, 2018 he shipped 55 credit cards and the device equipment from Austin, Texas to Charleston, West Virginia.  He further admitted the intent with the 55 cards was to defraud individuals whose accounts were linked to those cards. 

The United States Secret Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Chris Arthur handled the prosecution.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man already on federal supervised release for a prior drug and firearm conviction pled guilty today to selling heroin earlier this year,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Quentin J. Parker, 31, pled guilty to distribution of heroin.   

“A repeat offender,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Parker was still under federal supervision for previous offenses when he was caught distributing heroin.  Now he’ll be going back to federal prison.”

Parker admitted that, on February 6, 2019, he directed a confidential informant to come to a parking lot in the 200 block of 4th Avenue in Huntington to purchase heroin.  Once the informant arrived, Parker entered the informant’s vehicle and sold the informant heroin.  At the time of the offense, Parker was serving a term of supervised release based on convictions he received in 2011 for distributing crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.   

Parker faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on January 27, 2020 for the heroin distribution.  Parker additionally faces up to 24 months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release.   

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Guatemalan national man was sentenced to “time served” for the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Daniel Lopez-Ajqui, 26, has been in custody since June 11, 2019, over four months in federal custody.   Lopez-Ajqui entered a guilty plea on September 16, 2019.  After the sentencing, he was remanded to the Department of Homeland Security for possible removal from the United States.  Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We have more than doubled our prosecutions of illegal reentry cases over the last two years,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “This was Lopez-Ajqui’s third illegal entry into the United States.  We must put a stop to the revolving door.” 

On June 11, 2019, Lopez-Ajqui was found in Elkview by members of ICE after they received information Lopez-Ajqui was working illegally in Elkview.  ICE agents traveled to Elkview to confirm his legal status.  The defendant admitted to agents that he was in the United States illegally.  Lopez-Ajqui  was arrested and ICE agents matched his fingerprints to previous removals from the United States.  ICE agents further spoke to the defendant to confirm his identity. Lopez-Ajqui again admitted being in the United States illegally and had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States.

Fingerprinting matched Lopez-Ajqui to two prior removals from the United States in 2018 from Texas. In all prior removal hearings, Lopez-Ajqui was found by immigration judges to be in the United States illegally and he was deported to Guatemala.  He had not obtained permission to legally enter the United States and had not sought legal status or citizenship. Lopez-Ajqui further admitted to ICE agents that he was a Guatemalan citizen.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two felons pled guilty to federal gun crimes, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Both men pled guilty to being felons in possession of a firearm.

Kevin Washington, 49, of St. Albans, admitted that on September 17, 2017, an officer with the St. Albans Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle he was operating. At the time of the stop, Washington possessed a 9mm Taurus pistol in the seatback pocket of the vehicle.  Washington knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearms due to his 1993 burglary conviction in Virginia.  He has not had his rights to possess firearms restored.  Washington faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on January 22, 2020.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the St. Albans Police Department conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is handling the prosecution.

David Moore, 40, of Beckley, admitted that on April 1, 2017, a Raleigh County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled him over near the Beckley by-pass.  At the time of the stop, the officer saw a firearm in the back seat area of Moore’s car.  Moore admitted to the deputy that he possessed the Sig Sauer P522, .22 caliber semi-automatic firearm found in the car.   Moore further admitted that he knew it was illegal for him to possess a firearm because he was a convicted felon and was not supposed to possess any firearms.    Moore faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on February 13, 2020.  The ATF and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is handling the prosecution.  United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.

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

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Coal City man pled guilty to a child pornography offense,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Charles Larry Wallace, Jr., pled guilty to production of images of child pornography.  

“These cases are some of the most painful and emotional cases for my office to handle,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Adults are supposed to protect children, not exploit them.  A violation of the solemn responsibility to protect our children is something that can’t be forgotten or forgiven.”

Wallace admitted that on January 5, 2019, he used a cell phone to take several sexually explicit photographs of a prepubescent minor who was in his care at the time.  Wallace then backed the photographs up to his Google Photos account and sent them to another individual via the Internet.

Wallace faces up at least 15 and up to 30 years in prison when sentenced on February 6, 2020.

The West Virginia State Police Crimes Against Children Unit and the Beckley Police Department conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling 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.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two men pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers in Huntington, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

“Law enforcement officers are finding meth dealers in every county in my District,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “And we’re prosecuting them in record numbers.” 

Johnny Belcher, Jr., 35, of Huntington, admitted that on July 17, 2019, officers found approximately 24 grams of methamphetamine in his pockets.  Belcher told the officers the substance was “ice.”  The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation.   Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution.

In a separate case, Walter Ray Cavender, age 50, of  Mason County, admitted that on May 16, 2018, officers served a search warrant at his home on Evans Road in Leon, Mason County, West Virginia. At the time they served the search warrant, Cavender had approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine in his home which he intended to sell. He also had digital scales and approximately $1300 in cash.  The Mason County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.   Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey is handling the prosecution.

Belcher faces up to 20 years in prison and Cavender faces up to 40 years in prison when sentenced on January 21, 2020.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Belleville man pled guilty to a gun crime,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Joshua Adam Dowler, 37, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.

Dowler admitted that on April 12, 2018, he possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol at a residence on Cain Hill Road.  Dowler was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to his July 2007 conviction of daytime burglary in Wood County Circuit Court. He was serving a term of parole at the time he possessed the pistol.

Dowler faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on January 31, 2020.

The United States Marshals Service, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is handling the prosecution.

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

 

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FBI 2018 Crime Report Shows 3.9 Drop in Violent Crime in the United States

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

Throughout the past two years, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   According to FBI’s 2018 Crime in the United States Report released this week, the violent crime rate decreased for the second consecutive year, down 3.9 percent from the 2017 numbers.

“The revitalized Project Safe Neighborhoods program is a major success,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “It packs a powerful punch by combining advanced data with local leadership, further reducing violence in communities across the country and improving overall public safety. U.S. Attorneys continue to focus their enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals and work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal police. The Justice Department’s relationships across the board have never been stronger.”

“We are seeing significant reductions in violent crime as a result of PSN,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Our PSN success to date is a testament to the remarkable partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southern District.  Rest assured that while we’ve locked up record numbers of violent drug dealers and prohibited persons with guns, we maintain a sense of urgency.  We still have much work to do to keep our citizens safe from perpetrators of violence.”

“ATF strives to be ‘no better partner’ to law enforcement agencies,” stated ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Tommy Estevan of the Louisville Field Division.  “During the past year, ATF investigated illegal sources of crime guns and persons who illegally possessed or used guns to commit violent crimes in the Huntington and Charleston communities.  Together, we pursued ‘traffickers and trigger pullers’ with every resource, including new ballistic technology and other crime gun intelligence to disrupt the shooting cycle.  ATF remains committed to the continued success of Project Safe Neighborhoods and this comprehensive approach to public safety.”

“Huntington’s reductions in violent crime can be credited to our partnerships with federal agencies and our community, as well as the hard work of our police officers,” said Huntington Police Chief Hank Dial.  “Our PSN partnerships have resulted in more thorough and rapid gun investigations which have led to marked decreases in violent crime making our community a safer place to live.”

As we celebrate the two-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:

Enforcement Actions

As a result of its precipitous increase of violent crime in 2017, we have continued to focus our PSN enforcement efforts in the City of Huntington.  Work continues with the Huntington Police Department (HPD) to identify and investigate the City’s most violent offenders.  An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) works daily with HPD to conduct investigations on trigger pullers and gun traffickers.  Collaborative law enforcement operations continue to shutter significant violent drug trafficking organizations (DTOs).  Federal, state and local law enforcement are working collaboratively and cooperatively across jurisdictional boundaries to shut down the pipeline of drugs flowing into the Southern District of West Virginia through Huntington, which borders both Kentucky and Ohio.  Through these successful operations, the flow of illicit drugs from out-of-state sources such as Akron, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan have been curtailed.   Collaboration between federal, state and local partners most recently resulted in two significant takedowns:  Operation Free Market – a takedown that took out a heroin and fentanyl DTO operating between Detroit and Huntington in which seven defendants have been charged by federal indictment, with approximately 120 grams of heroin and 130 grams of fentanyl taken off the streets of Huntington; and Operation Flat Tire which shuttered a large Akron to Huntington heroin and methamphetamine DTO.  To date, 23 members of the DTO are under federal indictment.  As a result of the long-term investigation, more than 22 pounds methamphetamine, 300 grams of heroin, 2 ounces of fentanyl and 15 firearms have been seized. 

Recent notable cases include:

• Brandon Douglas Tomblin, of Huntington, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Read more:  https://go.usa.gov/xVFD7.

• Bryan Patrick, of Ohio, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Read more:  https://go.usa.gov/xVFDw.

• Jonathan Forest Johnson, of Huntington, was sentenced to 131 months in prison for methamphetamine distribution and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Read more:  https://go.usa.gov/xVFDS.

• Justin Michael Wilson, who threatened  two Putnam County government employees with a machine gun and stole their work vehicle, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for carjacking and gun crimes.  Read more:  https://go.usa.gov/xVFWQ.

 

Community Partnerships

A public messaging campaign will soon be launched featuring the deterrent message “Gun Crime = Fed Time.”  Meetings were held throughout the District to discuss PSN and the utilization of federal firearms statutes in cases of domestic violence with law enforcement, local prosecutors and victim service providers.  In addition, United States Attorney Mike Stuart continues to address community and faith-based organizations to discuss violent crime prevention strategies and public safety. 

Improvements to Community Safety

• For the second consecutive year, the estimated number of violent crimes in the nation decreased when compared with the previous year’s statistics, according to FBI figures released today. In 2018, the number of violent crimes was down 3.3 percent from the 2017 number.

• The 2018 statistics also show the estimated rate of violent crime was 368.9 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. The violent crime rate fell 3.9 percent when compared with the 2017 rate.

• In 2018, the City of Huntington’s overall violent crime offenses dropped approximately 20% and homicides decreased by 53%.  Violent crime incidents continued to decline in early 2019.  A comparison of the first six months of 2019 with the same time period in 2018 indicates another decrease in violent crime incidents of approximately 24%, a 71% reduction in murders; and a 52% decrease in robberies.

• In FY 19, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia increased the number of PSN defendants prosecuted by 77%.  In addition, the Office increased prosecutions of felon in possession cases by approximately 29%.  

 

These enforcement actions and partnerships are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

 

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal prison inmate pled guilty to escape, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Linda Avila, 55, admitted that on January 29, 2019, she walked away from the Federal Prison Camp at Alderson where she was serving a sentence for fraud.  She was captured almost immediately, only a short distance from the prison. The Federal Prison Camp at Alderson is a minimum security prison for women.

Avila faces up to five additional years in prison when sentenced on January 29, 2020.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney John File is handling the prosecution.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pled guilty today to a federal drug conspiracy charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Tremayne Swanson, also known as “Polo,” 28, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

“Swanson was part of a significant heroin and fentanyl trafficking operation wreaking havoc in the Huntington area,” said United States Mike Stuart.  “I commend the excellent investigation conducted by DEA and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West that shut this network down.”

Swanson admitted that between December 2018 and May 2019 he conspired with other individuals to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Huntington, West Virginia.  Swanson admitted he sold heroin for George Lockhart in Huntington. 

Swanson faces up to twenty years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 20, 2020.

Operation Free Market was a long-term drug investigation in the Huntington area.  The investigation was the result of a joint effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.  

The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Huntington, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Brandon R. Ware, 35, was sentenced to 60 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.  Ware was also ordered to serve a four-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence. 

“Ware, a Detroit drug dealer, is responsible for distributing nearly 400 grams of heroin in Huntington,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Now he is one of many heroin dealers going to federal prison as a result of the collaborative work between federal, state and local law enforcement and my prosecutors.”

Ware previously admitted that, from November 2014 to May of 2016, he conspired with others to distribute over 100 grams of heroin in the Huntington area.  Ware frequently received quantities of heroin which had been transported from Detroit on consignment and he would distribute the heroin in Huntington.  Ware then returned money from the sales to the source of the heroin in Detroit.  Ware admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of up to 400 grams of heroin during the conspiracy. 

The FBI Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.

 

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Charleston, W.Va. – A Michigan man was sentenced to federal prison for a drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Todd Stephens, 33, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl.  His prison sentence is to be followed by three years of supervised release. 

“Fentanyl is deadly,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “That’s why we have prosecuted every single fentanyl dealer brought to us by law enforcement.”

Stephens previously admitted that on August 28, 2017, he aided and abetted co-defendant Bree Eberbaugh in the distribution of heroin.  Eberbaugh was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison, followed by three years of  supervised release on July 1, 2019.  The two were arrested after law enforcement executed a search warrant on their residence.  Inside, officers found two handguns, over $3,000 in cash, and over 54 grams of fentanyl.    

The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation.   Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence.   Assistant United States Attorneys John Frail and Alexander Hamner handled the prosecution.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), an enforcement surge that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Bluefield woman pled guilty to selling drugs, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Cassandra Tiller, 36, pled guilty to distribution of heroin.

Tiller admitted that on March 13, 2017, she sold heroin to a confidential informant in Montcalm in Mercer County.

Tiller faces faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on February 3, 2020.

The Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.   Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorneys John File and Negar Kordestani are handling the prosecution.

 

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. –  United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that two Beckley men have been sentenced to federal prison for being felons in possession of firearms.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Police Department conducted the investigations.  United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentences.

John Swain, 45, was sentenced to 60 months in prison.  Swain was previously convicted by a federal jury in April 2019. Witnesses for the United States testified that on September 20, 2018, Swain, along with two other individuals, was being investigated for public intoxication and open container in downtown Beckley. Swain was the only one who was non-compliant. He continuously put his hands in his pocket and waistband area. Swain then fled on foot and maneuvered his hands towards his waist during the foot pursuit. He was apprehended and a canine tracked a 9mm Taurus pistol along the path of flight. After Swain’s arrest, law enforcement read him his Miranda rights and in a recorded interview, Swain admitted to possessing the firearm and that he wanted to get a clip and shoot it to see what it sounded like. Swain was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2008 federal conviction in the Southern District of West Virginia for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Saunders and Steven I. Loew are in charge of the prosecution and tried the case before a federal jury.

In another case, John Watson, 43, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.  Watson previously admitted that on May 8 2018, an ATF Special Agent contacted him to discuss three firearms that he had recently purchased.  The firearms consisted of a Springfield Armory, model 1911 Trophy Match, .45 caliber pistol; a Smith & Wesson, model 57, .41 caliber revolver; and a Sig Sauer, model M400, .223 caliber rifle.  The ATF agent informed Watson that each of the firearms were stolen and asked him to return them to the Beckley Police Department.  Watson complied and turned the firearms over to the police.  Watson admitted that at the time he possessed the aforementioned firearms, he knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law because of a 2004 felony conviction in Harrison County Circuit Court.  Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner is handling the prosecution.

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

 

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A New Jersey man was sentenced to federal prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  James Terry, 38, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.    Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, with the support of the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Oak Hill Police Department. 

“Terry was a major oxycodone dealer,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “The day we took Terry and his co-conspirators off the streets was a great day for the citizens of Fayette County.”

At his plea hearing in July, Terry previously admitted that between October 2017 and September 2018, he worked with other members of a drug trafficking organization operating between Fayette County, West Virginia and New Jersey to distribute oxycodone pills.  It was established that on May 31, 2018, Terry distributed over 500 oxycodone pills to another member of the drug trafficking organization in Fayette County, West Virginia.  Terry obtained the oxycodone tablets in New Jersey and transported them to West Virginia.  It was further established that on June 20, 2018 he was driving a car again transporting oxycodone pills from New Jersey to West Virginia.  It was the plan to deliver the pills to the same member of the drug trafficking organization in West Virginia to be redistributed and sold illegally in the Southern District of West Virginia for profit.  Prior to delivering the pills to West Virginia, the car Terry was driving was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Police.  During the traffic stop, approximately 997 oxycodone pills were recovered.  The pills were hidden in a secret compartment, commonly referred to as a trap.    The prosecution of Terry culminated from a joint investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies known as Mountaineer Highway. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Andrew J. Tessman handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A North Carolina man pled guilty to selling pills to an undercover law enforcement officer,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Ricky Walker, 42, pled guilty to distribution of oxycodone and oxymorphone.  The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation.  

“Another pill dealer stands convicted,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We are continuing to take record numbers of pill dealers and poison peddlers off our streets.”

Walker admitted that on November 2, 2012, he sold 90 oxycodone and 60 oxymorphone pills to what proved to be an undercover DEA Task Force Officer on the parking lot of the Comfort Inn in Cross Lanes, West Virginia.

Walker faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on December 30, 2019.

Senior United States District Judge John Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney John J. Frail is handling the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County woman was sentenced to federal prison for a heroin trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Valerie Ramey, 42, of Hernshaw, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin. 

“Ramey was selling powerful and deadly heroin and fentanyl,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We are prosecuting drug dealers with a sense of urgency like never before.  Too many lives have been lost.  The poison peddlers have to be held accountable.”

Ramey previously admitted that between May 30, 2017 and November 17, 2017, she participated in a conspiracy with her co-defendant, Curtis Watson, also known as “Low,” to distribute heroin in and around Hernshaw, West Virginia.

Beginning in 2015, Watson would typically deliver at least five grams of heroin to Ramey at her residence in Hernshaw approximately every two days. Ramey would store and sell the heroin out of her residence and transferred the proceeds of her drugs sales to Watson.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, on May 30, 2017 and June 8, 2017, Ramey distributed a quantity of heroin to a confidential informant working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On August 1, 2017, Ramey distributed a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory, the U.S. 119 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.  United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders handled the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A former Parkersburg physician pled guilty to a drug conspiracy,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Paul W. Burke, 68, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances not for legitimate medical purposes in the usual course of professional medical practice and beyond the bounds of medical practice.  

Burke worked at the Charleston HOPE Clinic, a chronic pain clinic, from April 2014 through September 2014. Burke admitted that the owner of the HOPE Clinic recruited him to work there despite Burke being primarily an emergency room doctor and surgeon with little experience in dealing with chronic pain patients and no training in prescribing schedule II narcotics for the treatment of chronic pain. The owner explained to Burke that narcotics auditors employed by PPPFD who were “former DEA Agents,” would screen customers for abuse, addiction, and diversion prior to the customer ever seeing him. In approximately April 2014, Burke began working at the Charleston HOPE Clinic.  Burke understood at the time he was contracted that the purpose of HOPE Clinic was to provide pain customers with oral opiate pain medicine. As the practice manager and owner both knew, however, Burke had no background or specialized training in chronic pain management.

Burk admitted that when he started working at the HOPE Clinic, it became apparent that some of the customers were not getting properly evaluated prior to the doctors writing them prescriptions for opioids, that the customers’ files were poorly kept and had little relevant medical information in them. Burk admitted that many of the patients came to the HOPE Clinic from out of state, and most customers paid in cash. He also admitted that he often received a bonus on top of his hourly pay that was clearly based on the number of paying customers at the Clinic.  Despite all of these red flags, Burke admitted that he continued to work at the HOPE Clinic and continued to write customers prescriptions for Schedule II narcotics. For example, Burke admitted that he and other doctors at HOPE Clinic should not have prescribed Schedule II opioid medications to customer S.W.  Doctors at the HOPE Clinic, including Burke, prescribed oxycodone to S.W., and Burke admitted those prescriptions were not for a legitimate medical reason in the usual course of professional practice and were beyond the bounds of medical practice. Between December 2012 and September 2014, eight different doctors at the HOPE Clinic wrote her prescriptions for a total of 720 oxycodone 10 mg pills and 2,670 oxycodone 15 mg pills.  During that less than two-year period, S.W. took eight drug tests and failed every single one. Burke admitted to only recognizing that S.W. failed three drug tests. Between December 2012 and September 2014, no one at the HOPE Clinic discussed drug addiction, drug abuse, drug treatment or drug diversion with S.W. On August 25, 2014, despite the clear evidence of abuse and diversion, Burke admitted to writing S.W. a prescription for 150 oxycodone 15 mg and 60 Percocet 10 mg.   

“As I’ve said many times, medical professionals who prey on individuals struggling with substance use disorder to line their own pockets will be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “A drug dealer in a lab coat is still just a drug dealer. We will work with our law enforcement partners to remove them from our communities to protect West Virginia families.”

“Patients struggling with opioid addiction are someone’s parents, children, friends or loved ones, and it’s our responsibility to protect them from bad actors who seek to profit from their struggle” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General-Philadelphia Regional Office (HHS-OIG). “Today’s conviction shows we are holding bad actors accountable and working to prevent further harm to patients.”

“Distributing addictive opioids for illegitimate purposes poses a serious threat to patients and public health and will not be tolerated,” said Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice unscrupulous actors who unlawfully distribute these dangerous drugs to the American public.” 

Burke faces up to five years in prison when sentenced on January 30, 2020. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police, the Kentucky State Police, the Beckley Police Department, the Virginia State Police, the Charleston Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorneys Monica D. Coleman and Steven I. Loew are handling the prosecution.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayetteville man was sentenced to federal prison for heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine trafficking, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Jason Dean Treadway, 36, was sentenced to 200 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, along with quantities of heroin and fentanyl.  Upon completing his prison sentence, Treadway will serve an additional term of four years of supervised release.

“200 months. Over 16 years in federal prison,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Treadway was on supervised release at the time he was selling meth, heroin and fentanyl in house with multiple guns.  It will be quite a while before he has another opportunity re-offend while on supervised release.” 

Treadway previously admitted that he sold heroin and fentanyl to an informant on January 14, 2019 at his residence on Deepwater Mountain Road.  On January 15, 2019, members of the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence and seized 446 grams of methamphetamine, 89.95 grams of heroin, 90.82 grams of fentanyl and three handguns.  Treadway’s girlfriend, Jessica Lynn Hall, 29, was sentenced to 71 months in prison after pleading guilty to her role in the offense. 

The Central West Virginia Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.   Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks handled the prosecution.  United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. 

 

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Harvery Booker, 54, was sentenced to 78 months in prison, to be followed by a 3 year term of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

Booker previously admitted that on September 12, 2018 he broke into a house in St. Albans and stole 32 firearms, including a machine gun.  At the time he stole the firearms, Booker had previously been convicted of at least three counts of breaking and entering, one count of aggravated robbery, and one count of escape. 

“I believe in second chances but, sadly, this guy never learned from his prior lengthy history in the American justice system,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “He stole 32 firearms, including a machine gun. Incredibly dangerous activity and he was a felon to boot. This is an egregious case.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Drew Inman handled the prosecution.

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

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced to federal prison for a gun crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Herman Lee James, 46, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  James was on federal supervised release at the time of the gun offense. The Court revoked his supervised release and ordered him to serve 18 months in prison to run concurrently with the 40 month term of imprisonment imposed for the gun crime.   

James admitted that he was found in possession of a Ruger P95 9 mm pistol near Piedmont and Slack Street in Charleston.  James has three prior drug convictions. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is handling the prosecution.

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

 

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging three Kentucky residents with ten counts of fraud and identity theft relating to a scheme to defraud a major car company of more than $4 million, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

According to the indictment, James Pinson, 44, Gary Conn, 56, and, Tammy Newsome, 53, of Kentucky organized and participated in a scheme to misuse a car company’s warranty extension program that offered to repurchase certain trucks for 150% of their value, so long as those trucks were owned by individual customers rather than a dealership.  Participants in the scheme bought the trucks at wholesale prices at auction through Pinson’s car dealership, Big Blue Motor Sales of Louisa, Kentucky.  They then obtained hundreds of copies of Kentucky and West Virginia residents’ driver’s licenses, fraudulently titled the trucks in the name of those residents, and induced the car company to repurchase the trucks at 150% of value.   

According to the indictment, the indicted defendants ran 350 trucks through the scheme between 2013 and 2015, causing approximately $4.3 million in losses to the car company.  Newsome is also charged with aggravated identity theft.  Frank Russo, 68, of North Carolina and Kevin Fluharty, 58, of West Virginia have already been indicted for their role in the same scheme.

If convicted, the three defendants face up to 30 years in prison. 

“This is the second indictment setting forth very serious allegations of a long-term warranty fraud scheme,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Five individuals have now been charged in connection with the alleged fraud scheme that resulted in $4 million in losses.”

The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police, and the West Virginia Office of the Insurance Commissioner conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Stefan Hasselblad is handling the prosecution.

The indictment can be found here.

Please note:  An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

 

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BECKLEY, W.Va. – An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at Beckley was sentenced to federal prison for a weapon offense, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Joshua Allen, 29, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for being an inmate in possession of a weapon.  His sentence will run consecutively to the sentence he was serving at the time of his offense.

Allen previously admitted that on December 7, 2018, while he was an inmate at the prison, he possessed a handcrafted weapon known as a “shank.”  The weapon was recovered by a staff member after Allen attempted to discard it.   

The Federal Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecution.

 

CHARLESTON, W.VA. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart issued the following statement about the important issues of elections, election security and voter legitimacy: 

“During the 2018 election cycle, Secretary of State Warner referred to my office what he perceived to be an attempted intrusion by an outside party into the West Virginia military mobile voting system. I note that there was no intrusion and the integrity of votes and the election system was not compromised.    My office instituted an investigation to determine the facts and whether any federal laws were violated. The FBI has led that investigation.  That investigation is currently ongoing and no legal conclusions whatsoever have been made regarding the conduct of the activity or whether any federal laws were violated.

The United States Department of Homeland Security has designated elections as “Critical Infrastructure.”  Federal and state officials including law enforcement treat potential threats against our elections extremely seriously.  There is no greater threat to our way of life and democracy than the threat of compromised elections.  The reliability of our election system and the sanctity of every vote is something we should never have to question.  Sadly, the challenge and threat isn’t only foreign interference but, rather, institutions, interest groups, third parties and trouble makers that seek to test or challenge or ultimately undermine the legitimacy of our elections and, as a result, our governing institutions and our government. It is something the Department of Justice and this office will not tolerate – not even a little.

In anticipation of the 2020 election cycle, a cycle that may well be the most contested, most intense and most brutal election cycle in the history of the nation, let me be absolutely clear:  If you are a party – any party – or an individual – any individual – that intentionally compromises or attempts to intentionally compromise our election systems, the security related to our election systems, or the legitimacy of the votes cast by citizens, my office will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.  Free and fair elections are a critical foundation to the maintenance of liberty.  Whether in the name of an academic exercise, a mere challenge or thrill, or to actually cause harm, we will treat every risk extremely seriously and as a threat to “Critical Infrastructure.”  Even a mere attempt is unacceptable.  If you do the crime, be ready to do the time.  Our election systems are sophisticated with many electronic fingerprints that will lead us exactly to the violators of our secured systems.  Don’t do it.  Don’t even think about it.”

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington woman pled guilty today to a federal drug conspiracy charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Krystal Ewing, 31, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

“Operation Free Market disrupted a significant heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization operating between Detroit and Huntington,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “My office is setting historic records in the number of prosecutions of drug dealers and poison peddlers.  We are working hard every day to shutter drug networks responsible for bringing these deadly drugs into our state.”

Ewing admitted that between December 2018 and May 2019 she conspired with other individuals to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Huntington, West Virginia.  Ewing admitted that she would travel to Detroit, Michigan to obtain heroin for George Lockhart for him to sell in Huntington. 

Ewing faces up to twenty years in federal prison when she is sentenced on January 13, 2020.

Operation Free Market was a long-term drug investigation in the Huntington area.  The investigation was the result of a joint effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.  

The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va.—A Huntington woman pled guilty to embezzling money from 2015 until April 2019 from the Huntington branch of the West Virginia Federal Credit Union (WVFCU), announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Frances McComas, 56, pled guilty to embezzling $165,500 from WVFCU.

“This was an egregious crime by a bank employee,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “McComas stole cash for approximately four years from the credit union that employed her.  We will continue to work with the FBI to prosecute cases like this.”

McComas, who worked as a teller at WVFCU, admitted she took $165,500 from the credit union’s vault and falsified the financial records to hide the embezzlement.   McComas faces up to 30 years in prison and 5 years supervised release when sentenced on January 6, 2020.  

The Federal Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Arthur is handling the prosecution. 

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pled guilty today to a federal drug charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Kenneth Alexander, 33, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin.

“We’re taking heroin dealers off the streets one by one and, on certain days, by the dozens,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.   “We are laser focused on prosecuting drug dealers and making our communities safer for West Virginia families.”

Alexander admitted that on August 1, 2018, he and another individual sold heroin to a confidential informant in the 1100 block of 9th Avenue in Huntington, West Virginia.   

Alexander faces up to twenty years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 13, 2020.

The Cabell County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.   The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.

 

 

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BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at McDowell pled guilty to a weapon offense, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Devin Dantzler, 24, pled guilty to being an inmate in possession of a weapon.

Dantzler admitted that on June 26, 2019, while he was an inmate at the prison, he possessed a handcrafted weapon commonly called a “shank.”   A staff member at the prison found the shank in Dantzler’s pocket during a search.

Dantzler faces up to five years in prison when sentenced on February 3, 2020.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation.   Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney John File is handling the prosecution.

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging a Beckley woman with multiple counts of fraud, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.   Natalie P. Cochran, 38, owner of Technology Management Solutions (TMS) and Tactical Solutions Group (TSG), was charged in a 26-count indictment with wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft and bankruptcy fraud.

“A 26-count indictment alleging wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft and bankruptcy fraud,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “All indictments are serious and this is a serious matter. Ms. Cochran pretended to be a government contractor, intentionally misled investors to raise money for her fraudulent schemes, intentionally stole personal identification information from multiple individuals, falsely marketed herself and her companies as experienced, leading suppliers of government services while never being awarded a single federal contract and having two potential state contracts cancelled, and then engaged in bankruptcy fraud.  I want to thank the work of my team and the West Virginia State Police, Secret Service, FDIC and ATF for their tremendous work in this matter.” 

“The results of this investigation demonstrate the Secret Service’s commitment to strong partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Thomas Fleming, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Charleston Resident Office.  “We are committed to protecting our nation’s financial institutions and the citizens of West Virginia.  We would like to thank the West Virginia State Police, the ATF, and the FDIC OIG for their cooperation and partnership in this case.” 

According to the indictment, Cochran has pretended to be an experienced government contractor since 2017.  She advertised TMS and TSG as experienced government contracting businesses.   TSG’s website even boasted that it was a leading supplier to the Department of Defense.  Investigators learned however, that TSG was never awarded a single federal or state government contract.  TMS was awarded two state government contracts, but the State of West Virginia ultimately cancelled these awards because of TMS’ repeated delays in performance.  

It is further alleged in the indictment that Cochran received investments from at least 11 individuals in her government contracting businesses, TSG and TMS.  Cochran received these investments as a result of her false misrepresentations regarding TSG’s and TMS’ experience and purported success as government contractors.  Cochran also received funds from at least one financial institution as a result of her false and misleading statements regarding TSG and TMS.  During the course of her fraudulent schemes, Cochran stole identification information from multiple individuals, who were either employed by the federal government or the banking industry.  She would then send investors emails that were purportedly from these individuals in order to further her wire fraud and bank fraud schemes. 

This past July, Cochran filed for bankruptcy.  The indictment further alleges that she made several material misrepresentations within her bankruptcy filing and lied while testifying under oath at her meeting of creditors.

The indictment alleges that Cochran fraudulently obtained over $2.5 million during her scheme and is believed to have spent over $1 million of investor money.  Cochran used investor money to fund her lifestyle for over a year and a half, as she was unemployed during that time outside of her work with TSG and TMS. She also used the investor money for extravagant purchases, including jewelry, a 1965 Shelby Cobra, and multiple properties.  

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

The West Virginia State Police, the United States Secret Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.   Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson is handling the prosecution.

Please note:  An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Mason County man who threatened two employees of the Putnam Public Service District (PSD) with a machinegun and stole their company truck last year in Teays Valley was sentenced in federal court, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Justin Michael Wilson, 20, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after he was previously convicted of carjacking, using, carrying, and brandishing a machinegun during and in relation to a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a machinegun, and possession of an unregistered machinegun.  Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and multiple agencies who responded to the crimes, including the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Hurricane Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police.   

“30 years for a 20 year old - truly tragic,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Threatening government employees. Use of a machine gun. Risking the lives of  law enforcement. These were incredibly dangerous actions that could have resulted in loss of many lives.  We will never accept this type of violent and illegal behavior but we appreciate the human tragedy of a 20 year old serving 30 years in prison.” 

On January 11, 2018, Wilson drove a vehicle he had stolen earlier in the day in Jackson County to the Liberty Square Shopping Plaza in Teays Valley.  While in route to the shopping plaza, Wilson acquired a machinegun and engaged deputies in Kanawha County in a chase, eventually driving off-road and jumping his vehicle over railroad tracks to get away.  When he arrived at the shopping plaza, Wilson approached two employees of the Putnam Public Service District eating lunch in their company truck.  Wilson brandished the machinegun, demanded the men transfer items from the stolen vehicle to the PSD truck, and stole the truck. 

A West Virginia State Police trooper and deputies with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department responding to calls at the shopping plaza for assistance immediately saw Wilson fleeing in the truck.  Wilson then entered Interstate 64 headed westbound and led the responding units on another high speed chase.  During the pursuit, Wilson pointed the machinegun out of the truck at the trooper, ran vehicles off the road, crossed the median at a designated emergency vehicle crossing, traveled westbound in the eastbound lanes, exited the interstate by traveling the wrong way up the entrance ramp at Hurricane, and eventually crashed the truck which was destroyed by fire.  Wilson was pulled from the burning truck by the trooper and placed under arrest. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.  United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. 

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

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement officials, will hold a press conference in Beckley on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.  to discuss law enforcement actions of significant interest. 

 

Where:             Robert C. Byrd Federal Building

                        110 North Heber Street

                        Beckley, WV

        

When:              Thursday, September 26, 2019 @ 1:30 p.m.

 

 

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21 Total Individuals Indicted for Roles in Drug Conspiracy

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced multiple indictments today charging numerous individuals with participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin which operated between Akron, Ohio and the Southern District of West Virginia.  The indictments and subsequent arrests resulted from an extensive, joint investigation 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 Ona 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.  Also included in the charges is information uncovered in a separate investigation conducted by the Huntington Police Department.  The investigation resulted in two indictments charging a total of 21 individuals for their roles in distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin, primarily in Cabell, Putnam, and Kanawha Counties in the Southern District of West Virginia.   

“This case demonstrates the incredible commitment of federal, state and local law enforcement to work collaboratively and cooperatively across jurisdictional boundaries to shut down the pipeline of drugs flowing into West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “My Office has spearheaded many, many takedowns but this one is particular important. Indictments by a West Virginia grand jury are being executed today in Akron and West Virginia. Search warrants were executed and, trust me, this is dangerous work. I always pray for the safety of law enforcement involved in the arrests. Those arrested in Akron will be brought to West Virginia and prosecuted in West Virginia. When I took my oath of office nearly two years ago, I did so with the absolute conviction that I would do all in my power to root out the drug dealers, drug thugs and poison peddlers that have caused so much devastation, despair and death.  As a son of West Virginia, my heart aches for the effects of this scourge on our people, our families and our children. I am impassioned to end this scourge. We will continue to do everything within our power and use every available resource to disrupt the supply of deadly drugs coming into our state, prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law, and protect the people of West Virginia.”

"Drug dealers are trying to take advantage of the addiction problem this community and the entire state faces," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones. "They have chosen West Virginia to do business, but I’m here to tell them today, to take their business elsewhere. We and our law enforcement partners will use every tool we have to stop criminals from exploiting the vulnerable people."  

This long-term investigation uncovered an ongoing scheme to transport large quantities of crystal methamphetamine and heroin from Akron to the Southern District of West Virginia.  The drugs were then distributed across the Southern District, primarily in Cabell, Putnam, and Kanawha Counties.  During the investigation, agents were able to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine and seize large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin.  It is believed that the shuttering of this drug conspiracy will continue to address and curtail the availability of highly pure methamphetamine and heroin in the Southern District.    

The investigation was a collaborative effort between numerous federal, state and local law enforcement partners and today’s actions would not have been possible without the seamless collaboration of all involved agencies.  The investigation is ongoing and could result in additional federal and state charges in the future.

 

Please Note:  An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 

 

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United States Attorney Mike Stuart to Hold Press Conference in Huntington Tomorrow

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement officials, will hold a press conference in Huntington on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.  to discuss major law enforcement actions. 

 

Where:             Sidney L. Christie Federal Building

                        845 Fifth Avenue

                        Huntington, WV

   

When:              Wednesday, September 25, 2019 @ 3:00 p.m.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Apache Junction, Arizona man pled guilty to possessing methamphetamine and heroin,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Clint Gentile, 39, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.

“550 grams of meth and 11 grams of black tar heroin,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Gentile was coming from Arizona, but I don’t care where drug dealers are bringing drugs from – we don’t want out-of-state drug dealers peddling their poisons here.”

Gentile admitted that on July 26, 2019 he was traveling on I-64 in Cabell County, West Virginia.  The vehicle was pulled over for various traffic violations.  Members of the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West searched the vehicle and found approximately 550 grams of methamphetamine and 11 grams of black tar heroin.  Gentile admitted that he had traveled to West Virginia with the intent to distribute the methamphetamine and heroin. 

Gentile faces up to twenty years in prison when sentenced on January 6, 2020.

The Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution.

 

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