Northern District of West Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Harrison County man sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Frank Horner, III, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 70 months of incarceration for a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Horner, age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” in June 2020. Horner admitted to having methamphetamine in October 2019 in Harrison County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Georgia man sentenced to four life sentences plus 10 years for drug distribution resulting in deathRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Terrick Robinson, of Cartersville, Georgia, was sentenced today to life incarceration plus 10 years for drug distribution resulting in death and a myriad of other charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
“This was a horrible series of events. The facts placed a powerful spotlight on the depravity of the drug trade and the extent that those involved will go to conduct their activities. Nothing can bring back Ms. Dubois to her family, but the prosecution and the sentencing sent the only message we can send: these types of crimes will be severely punished. The prosecution is the result of excellent work by law enforcement in multiple jurisdictions and a dedicated prosecution team intent on rendering justice. I once again offer my condolences to the family of Ms. Dubois,” said Powell.
After a nine-day trial in January 2020, a federal jury found Robinson, age 35, guilty of one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances,” one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” one count of “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine – Aiding and Abetting,” one count of “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride – Aiding and Abetting,” one count of “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl – Aiding and Abetting,” one count of “Use of a Firearm During and in relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime – Aiding and Abetting,” one count of “Use and Carry a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime,” and one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury or Death.”
During the trial, the jury heard testimony that Robinson trafficked and distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as cocaine hydrochloride and fentanyl, in Marion County and elsewhere from May 2018 to September 2018. He would travel from Georgia to West Virginia, trafficking the drugs from different motel and hotel rooms and other locations. Robinson and his conspirators carried at least three firearms during the drug trafficking crimes.
At one of the motels in Lewis County on August 9, 2018, Robinson distributed fentanyl to Courtney Dubois of Fairmont, West Virginia. That drug, according to a forensic pathologist, was an independent sufficient cause of Courtney Dubois’ death. The jury heard testimony and saw evidence that Robinson took the body of the victim to Georgia, where he dismembered the body and disposed of it at the Bartow County Landfill.
“All too often, drug dealers use guns to further their violent criminal activities and threaten the safety of our communities” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow, of the Louisville Field Division which includes most of West Virginia. “ATF provides investigative resources that assist in the arrest and successful prosecution of violent criminals like Terrick Robinson. We remain committed to working with our task force partners in arresting these offenders and pursing sentences that are commensurate with their criminal activity.”
“Today, our hearts are with Ms. Dubois’ family,” said Special Agent in Charge Todd Scott, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “As a father, I can’t even begin to fathom what they must feel, after losing their daughter in such a violent and horrific manner. Those responsible for this heinous crime should expect the full weight of the justice system.”
Robinson was sentenced to life incarceration for each of the following counts: “Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances,” “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine – Aiding and Abetting,” and “Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury or Death.”
He also was sentenced to 480 months for “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride – Aiding and Abetting,” 240 months for “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl – Aiding and Abetting,” and 60 months each for “Use of a Firearm During and in relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime – Aiding and Abetting,” and “Use and Carry a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.” The life sentences will run concurrently, along with the sentences for 480 months and 240 months. Each of the 60-month sentences will run consecutive to one another to total another 10 years of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Three Rivers Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force; the West Virginia State Police; The Bartow County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; the FBI in Rome, Georgia; and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Former inmate at FCI Hazelton sentenced for manslaughterRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Dean Odeneal, former inmate at FCI Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 80 months of incarceration for manslaughter in the death of another inmate, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Odeneal, age 30, pled guilty to one count of “Voluntary Manslaughter” in June 2020. Odeneal admitted to stabbing another inmate, killing him, in August 2014.
Odeneal is currently serving time in another federal prison for kidnapping from a 2012 incident in North Dakota. He was sentenced to 144 months in 2013 for that crime. The sentence imposed today, 80 months, will run consecutively to any previous sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Prisons and the FBI investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Wetzel County man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Nicholas D. Klem, of Proctor, West Virginia, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Klem, age 29, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Klem admitted to working with others to distribute methamphetamine from August 2019 to August 2020 in Marshall County and elsewhere.
Klem faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Ohio man admits to selling cocaineRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Shuntaze Harvey, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Harvey, age 23, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Harvey admitted to selling cocaine near Wheeling Center Catholic High School in Wheeling in February 2020.
Harvey faces at least one and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
25 people indicted in drug trafficking operation that spanned several statesRead the Press Release
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA – Twenty-five people from four states are facing charges in a drug trafficking operation that dealt with methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
“This is the third major indictment announced in just the last few weeks here in the Northern District of West Virginia. What they all have in common is the presence of out of state participants alleged to be part of a significant drug conspiracy. We have dedicated law enforcement partners and aggressive prosecutors who will root out such activity in our district and enforce the law. We have always believed that this type of effort is required to protect our communities. To those thinking that they can come into our state and participate in these illegal activities without consequence, you are sadly mistaken. We will not stop, but I suggest that you do,” said Powell.
The 25 were named in a 56-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury sitting in Elkins on October 20, 2020 on charges involving a drug distribution operation spanning California, Texas, and West Virginia. They are:
• Anthony Allen, 34, of Rosenberg, Texas
• Johnnie Bradley, 37, of Houston, Texas
• Michael Alcendor, 19, of Houston, Texas
• James Pugh, 46, of Wheeling, West Virginia
• Jeffrey Howard, 23, of Houston, Texas
• Kedrick Howard, 27, of Dallas, Texas
• Leonard Jasmine, 28, Houston, Texas
• Sixto Marquez, 44, of Paramount, California
• Francisco Chanes, 36, of Los Angeles, California
• Aaliyah Snowden, 25, of Eastpointe, Michigan
• Roderick Bradley, 30, of Houston, Texas
• Kelsey McClung, 27, of Westover, West Virginia
• Robert Woody, 41, of Morgantown, West Virginia
• Tiffany Groves, 42, of Kingwood, West Virginia
• Sabrina Burton, 24, of Morgantown, West Virginia
• Skilor Perdue, 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia
• Loren Delaney, 29, of Morgantown, West Virginia
• Greg Snider, 61, of Bruceton Mills, West Virginia
• Morgan Janes, 23, of Morgantown, West Virginia
• Suzanne Adiyeh, 37, of Morgantown, West Virginia
• Antonio Buzzo, 25, of Maidsville, West Virginia
• David Gamble, 56, of Masontown, West Virginia
• Leslie O’Quinn, 30, of Houston, Texas
• Narkevia Lewis, 22, of Houston, Texas
• Ashley Johnson, 34, Morgantown, West VirginiaThe crimes are alleged to have occurred in Monongalia County and elsewhere from the spring of 2018 to October 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zelda E. Wesley and Sarah E. Wagner are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI's Northern West Virginia Drug Task Force in partnership with the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The Task Forces have members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff's Office; and, the Morgantown, WVU, Granville and Star City Police Departments. The investigation was also assisted by the following law enforcement partners: the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI in Houston, Texas; the Houston Police Department's Multi Agency Gang Initiative; the United States Postal Inspection Service in Houston; and, the FBI and DEA in Los Angeles, California.
These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Monongalia County woman guilty of firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Teresa Miller, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was found guilty of a firearms violation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
After a bench trial today, Miller, age 46, was found guilty of one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Miller, having previously been convicted of a drug crime, is prohibited from having a firearm. Miller had a .380 caliber pistol and a .45 caliber pistol in July 2018 in Monongalia County.
Miller faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Morgantown Police Department investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Marion County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Samuel Iaquinta, Jr., of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Iaquinta, age 47, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Iaquinta, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of a previous felony conviction, admitted to having a 9mm pistol in Marion County in March 2020.
Iaquinta faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fairmont Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Wheeling woman admits to selling “crack” cocaineRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Ashly Phillips, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Phillips, age 33, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Phillips admitted to selling “crack” cocaine near Luau Manor in Wheeling in February 2020.
Phillips faces at least one and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Monongalia County man and Maryland man admit to their roles in a drug trafficking operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Daniel Meadows, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Donald Noel Smith, of Oakland, Maryland, have admitted to their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Meadows, 49, and Smith, 41, each pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility.” Meadows and Smith admitted to using a to distribute drugs in March 2020 in Monongalia County.
Meadows and Smith each face up to four years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Related press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/seventeen-people-charged-heroin-and-crack-cocaine-distribution-operation
South Carolina man admits to “crystal” meth and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Todd Michael Hensley, of Anderson, South Carolina, has admitted to drug and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Hensley, age 48, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.”
On January 23, 2020, officers conducted a traffic stop of Hensley’s vehicle in Marshall County and found him to be in possession of approximately 2.73 pounds of “crystal” methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” a loaded 9mm Glock pistol, four loaded 10-round Glock firearm magazines, a loaded 15-round Glock firearm magazine, and three loaded 31-round Glock firearm magazines. Following the traffic stop, a search warrant was executed at Hensley’s home in Anderson, South Carolina, where officers seized an additional 14 firearms, including three AK47s, approximately 300 rounds of ammunition, 50 grams of “ice,” and $9,000 in cash.
Hensley faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug charge. He faces a mandatory five years of incarceration for the firearm charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marshall County Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The Anderson County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Department assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Monongalia County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Andrew Douglas Packard, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Packard, age 30, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Packard, who is prohibited from having firearms, admitted to having a 9mm Glock pistol, a multi-caliber pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, a 410-gauge shotgun, and a rifle in April 2018 n Monongalia County.
Packard faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Morgantown Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Wheeling man admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Jason Timothy Henry, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Henry, age 44, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Henry admitted to having more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in November 2019 in Ohio County.
Henry faces at least five years and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Wheeling Police Department and the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
U.S. Attorney promotes 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Bill Powell wants to ensure that everyone knows how to rid their homes of unused and unwanted medications.
The DEA is holding its 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 at locations across the country. The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
“Many people don’t know how to properly dispose of old medication. So, it is either disposed of improperly, which can seriously damage the environment, or not discarded, which can cause medications to all too often end up in the wrong hands,” said Powell. “DEA is providing an important public service. I encourage everyone to get rid of their old and unused prescription medicine in the proper way. DEA is making it easier for all of us and I thank them again for this yearly effort.”
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.
“The initiative – now in its tenth year – addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Together with our partners, we are not only holding National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, but offering other ways to dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications.”
Given the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, DEA wants to ensure that the public is aware of other ways they can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs without having to leave their homes. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs at home.
In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year. For more information, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1.
DEA also encourages the public to reach out to their local law enforcement to find out if they have any permanent drug disposal locations throughout their local community.
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are removed from the devices. If the battery cannot be removed, individual consumers can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the vape pen or e-cigarette devices for proper disposal. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs cannot be dropped off. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
For more information on DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and to find a collection site near you, visit www.deatakeback.com
Ohio woman admits to drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Bailey N. Robinson, of Belmont, Ohio, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Robinson, age 20, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Robinson admitted to helping to distribute methamphetamine in April 2020 in Marshall County.
Robinson faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Michigan man admits to meth chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Shook, of Detroit, Michigan, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Shook, age 32, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Shook admitted to having methamphetamine in August 2020 in Monongalia County.
Shook faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Hancock County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Martino, of Weirton, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Martino, age 39, pled guilty to one count of “Receipt of Unregistered Firearm.” Martino admitted to receiving a machine gun that wasn’t registered to him in April 2019 in Hancock County.
Martino faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danae DeMasi-Lemon is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Wetzel County woman admits to heroin chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Tina Rose Yoho, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Yoho, age 31, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin.” Yoho admitted to selling heroin in June 2019 in Wetzel County.
Yoho faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
West Virginia and Virginia residents indicted for a drug trafficking operation in Berkeley and Jefferson CountiesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Seven people are facing charges in drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Those named in the 16-count indictment are facing charges of distributing controlled substances in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties from October 2019 to April 2020. Those charged are:
Michael Pierre Christian, 43, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
Misty Rose Jackson, 33, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
Stephon Robert Christian, 26, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
Charles Jackson, 52, of Winchester, Virginia
Jaime Renee Coddington, 34, of Falling Waters, West Virginia
Justin Clinton, 25, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
Shane Lee Dirting, 54, of Martinsburg, West VirginiaAssistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated.
These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney and FBI prepare for election dayRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Stephen D. Warner will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Warner has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Northern District of West Virginia, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
Powell said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, U.S. Attorney Powell stated that AUSA/DEO Warner will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 304-907-3525.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Powell said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
Marshall County man admits to firearms violationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Justin Michael Fuller, of Moundsville, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Fuller, age 33, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Fuller, who is not permitted to have a firearm because of a prior conviction, admitted to having a 12-gauge shotgun and a 10mm pistol in Marshall County in May 2019.
Fuller faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Columbus man admits to selling cocaineRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Deontre Christian Johnson, of Columbus, Ohio, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Johnson, also known as “Day Day,” age 20, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Johnson admitted to selling cocaine near Jensen Playground on Wheeling Island in December 2019.
Johnson faces at least one and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
U.S. Attorney welcomes new Assistant U.S. AttorneysRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Bill Powell has hired four new Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Christopher L. Bauer, Eleanor F. Hurney, Maximilian F. Nogay, and Clayton J. Reid were sworn in over the past few months.
“A position as an Assistant United States Attorney is a coveted one. We receive dozens of applications for every one opening, and many of the applicants are highly qualified. Ultimately, we hire the best person for the position, and we have done so again. I am very proud of our team in this district, and I am confident that our new Assistant United States Attorneys will continue the great work our district is recognized for,” said Powell.
Christopher L. Bauer received his undergrad degree in legal studies and political science, and a minor in philosophy, from William Paterson University in New Jersey. Chris then received his JD/MBA from West Virginia University, where he served on the West Virginia Law Review and the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic. From 2016 to 2017, he worked as a litigation associate in the Bridgeport, West Virginia office of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. From 2017 to 2018, Chris served as a term law clerk for the Honorable Robert W. Trumble, United States Magistrate Judge. From 2018-2020, he served as a term law clerk for the Honorable Irene M. Keeley, Senior United States District Judge. Chris is working in the criminal division in the District’s Clarksburg office.
Eleanor F. Hurney is a 2017 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law. After graduating from WVU in May 2017, she clerked for U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in Wheeling, for Judge Stephanie D. Thacker with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and, most recently with Judge Frank W. Volk while he was the Chief U. S. Bankruptcy Judge in Southern West Virginia and as a U. S. District Judge in Charleston. Eleanor is working in the criminal division in the Martinsburg office.
Maximilian F. Nogay is a 2018 graduate of WVU College of Law. After graduation, Max joined the law firm of Sellitti, Nogay & Nogay in Weirton, WV. He handled a variety of civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania as the firm’s primary associate attorney. While in law school, Max won the Lugar Cup, WVU’s annual in-house trial competition, and competed in the National Moot Court Competition held at the U. S. Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit. Max was also a four-year varsity athlete for the West Virginia University baseball team. Max is working in the District’s Wheeling office in the civil division.
Clayon J. Reid is a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Science in American Legal Studies from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 2009. Following graduation from West Point, C.J. served in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer until 2014, including one tour in Afghanistan. C.J. received his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2017, where he was a member of the West Virginia Law Review, Veterans Advocacy Clinic, and Order of the Coif. Following graduation from law school, C.J. served as a term law clerk for the Honorable John Preston Bailey until joining the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia this year. C.J. works in the District’s Wheeling office in the criminal division.
Preston County man admits to sending obscene material to a minorRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Joshua Armstrong, of Terra Alta, West Virginia, has admitted to having child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Armstrong, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Transfer of Obscenity to a Minor.” Armstrong admitted to sending obscene material to a minor under the age of 16 in Preston County in August 2016.
Armstrong faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David j. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Pendleton County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Donnie Gale Leggett, Jr., of Brandywine, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Leggett, 33, pled guilty today to one count of “False Statement During Purchase of Firearm.” Leggett admitted to making a false statement to purchase a firearm in Mineral County in November 2019.
Leggett faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Boetteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
New York man admits to taking West Virginia teen across state lines for sexRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Max Paul Levine, of Bronx, New York, has admitted to the interstate transport of a minor for sex, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Levine, also known as “James Connely” and “Noxx Nocten,” age 35, pled guilty today to one count of “Transportation of a Minor Across State Lines for Sexual Purposes.” Levine admitted to transporting a 15-year-old West Virginia girl from her Harrison County home to his residence in Bronx, New York to engage in sexual activity in June 2019.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Harrison County man admits to firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Al-Teric Garrett, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Garrett, age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Garrett, who was previously convicted of felony charges and prohibited from having a firearm, admitted to having a 9mm pistol in August 2019 in Harrison County.
Garrett faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
U.S. Attorneys Bill Powell and Mike Stuart announce $8.9 million in Justice Department grants to combat addiction crisisRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorneys Bill Powell and Mike Stuart today announced awards of $8,902,765 in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in the [name of district]. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.
“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”
“West Virginia is ground zero for battling this crisis. With the highest overdose death rate per capita nationally for several years in a row, it’s vital that those in the mountain state working to combat this epidemic have the tools they need to help bring those numbers down and save lives. This funding will assist in that fight,” said Powell.
“With our state being the epicenter of the addiction crisis, this funding is critical to addressing the challenges faced by families and communities throughout West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “It will further strengthen the “all hands on deck” approach that is necessary to combat the addiction crisis. The programs funded will provide much needed resources and support to those in need.”
Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
The following organizations received funding:
West Virginia Justice and Community Services - $6,223,284
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals - $1,349,953
United Way of the River Cities - $690,553
Legal Aide of West Virginia - $638,975For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years
DOJ Charges More Than 14,200 Defendants with Firearms-Related Crimes in Fy20Read the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – This week, the Department of Justice announced it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.
“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”
“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”
“Actions have consequences, and if, for example, you have committed a felony, you often forfeit certain rights. We will enforce those consequences, including the right to possess firearms. The safety of our communities remains a top priority,” said Powell.
Of the more than 14,200 cases charged, 57 cases involving 75 defendants have been brought by the Northern District of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Powell.
The Northern District began the 2021 fiscal year (began October 1, 2020) with more firearms cases. A grand jury sitting in Wheeling on October 7 and 8, 2020 indicted 12 individuals with firearms violations. Of those cases, five are unsealed.
- Walter S. Bernoski, 52, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was indicted on one count of “False Statement During Purchase of Firearm.” Bernoski is accused of lying on the ATF form when purchasing a 9mm pistol in Morgantown in January 2018.
- Leonadus Lowell Chaney, III, 52, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was indicted on one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Lowell, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior felony conviction, is accused of having a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol in Marion County in February 2020.
- Samuel Robert Loretta, 54, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was indicted on one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Loretta, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of three previous felonies, is accused of having a 6-shot revolver in Harrison County in March 2020.
- Shawn Monte Pritchard, 33, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was indicted on two counts of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Pritchard, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of three previous felonies, is accused of having a 9mm pistol and a .22 caliber rifle in October 2019 in Marion County.
- Randolph Michael Smith, 42, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was indicted on one “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Smith, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of four previous felonies, is accused of having two 9mm pistols seven 9mm caliber cartridges in May and August 2020 in Ohio County.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase - firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense. The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law abiding people of this country safe from gun crime.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
22 people indicted in drug trafficking enterprise that spanned several statesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Twenty-two people are facing charges in a multi-state organized drug trafficking enterprise dubbed the “19th Street Enterprise,” U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
“Protecting the community is both my biggest responsibility and greatest honor. This case involves a tangled web of drugs, violence, and money and it was being orchestrated by those outside of our state, with enough fentanyl to kill two and half times the population of West Virginia. We will not tolerate others preying on our residents and will continue to work to bring all of those who do so to justice,” said Powell.
The 22 were indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Wheeling on October 7, 2020 on charges involving a drug distribution operation spanning Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and other locations. The criminal enterprise consisted of racketeering to hide thousands of dollars in proceeds from drug sales, acts of violence, and the distribution of more than 400 grams of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine hydrochloride. They are:
• Christopher Arthur Jones, also known as “Smooth,” 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Gregory Reese, also known as “Geez,” 38, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Tyrone Kareem Thomas, also known as “Mack,” 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Eric Jones, 36, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Catia Quinones, 36, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Christian Lamar Goode, also known as “Lil Chris,” 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Dominic Asquith, also known as “Dom,” 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Kathryn Annette Batis, also known as “Kitty,” 35, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
• Keyontray Daniel Johnson, also known as “38,” 24, of Worton, Maryland
• Michael Davon Moore, also known as “Smiley,” 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Anthony Peterson, also known as “Ant Man,” 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Cody Xavier Brown, also known as “Bricks,” 21, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Brian Jones, also known as “B,” 61, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Arnel Hategekimana, also known as “Homie,” 21, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
• Andre Jason Burgos, also known as “Ghost,” 30, of Wilmington, Delaware
• Joshua Raymond, 32, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
• John Suffare Beavers, II, 34, of Hedgesville, West Virginia
• Barbara Jean Feltner, 32, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
• Maxwell Edward Sanderlin, 33, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
• Kevin Gene Barron, 44, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
• Bonnie Lou Breeden, 51, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
• Rebecca Branham, 50, of Martinsburg, West VirginiaThe indictment charges 11 of the 22 defendants with crimes under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering statute (VICAR). These racketeering-based statutes provide criminal penalties up to life imprisonment for acts performed as part of a criminal organization, and support charges for those who only ordered or assisted others to carry out the illegal acts. The indictment alleges that the “19th Street Enterprise” enriched the leaders, members, and associates of the enterprise through among other things, acts of violence, robbery, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
The crimes are alleged to have occurred in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties and elsewhere from June 2019 to October 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep. This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally.
OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Law enforcement honored by U.S. Attorney at awards ceremony in ClarksburgRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Eleven law enforcement members were recognized today for their outstanding work in the greater Clarksburg area.
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell recognized WV State Police Cpl. John W. Smith, FBI Special Agent Fred Aldridge, FBI Special Agent Matt Eagles, DEA Diversion Investigator Guy McCartney, DEA Diversion Investigator Chris Skaggs, WV State Police Sgt. Rob Talkington, Bridgeport Police Lt. Gary Weaver, WV State Police Task Force Commander Josh Tallman, FBI Special Agent Peter Olinits, FBI Special Agent Jared Jankowski, FBI Special Agent Justin Van Tromp, and IRS Special Agent Tami Devericks for their exemplary work.
“Honoring those who go above and beyond to protect our children, our community and our national security is a great privilege. While this year has created exceptional challenges, they continue their great work to keep our communities safer. Those honored today never seek recognition, but it is important to let the public know about the accomplishments of our law enforcement members. I thank each and every one of them for their continued service,” said Powell.
West Virginia State Police Cpl. J.W. Smith and FBI Special Agent Aldridge conducted an arduous two-year investigation resulting in the successful prosecution of former Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Rock for distributing drugs to his confidential informants in 2016. Cpl. Smith and Special Agent Aldridge conducted dozens of interviews, often with hard-to-locate subjects, active drug users, uncooperative witnesses, and Rock himself. They poured over and organized hundreds of pages of law enforcement records and reports Their work was exceptional, and Rock’s conviction was uniquely important to the county and the law enforcement community. Rock was sentenced to more than 58 months in prison.
For the successful outcome of this case and their important roles in the investigation, the Outstanding Investigative Effort Award was given to Cpl. J.W. Smith and Special Agent Fred Aldridge.FBI Special Agent Matt Eagles, DEA Diversion Investigator Guy McCartney, DEA Diversion Investigator Chris Skaggs worked tirelessly in the prosecution of several physicians and others in a prescription drug case. The Dr. Felix Brizuela investigation began in January 2015 as a DEA investigation into Dr. Brizuela’s prescribing practices. It soon became evident that Dr. Brizuela was engaging in healthcare fraud, the FBI joined the investigation. The investigation quickly expanded to other targets, including Dr. George Naum, Sharon Jackson and Eric Drake. Investigator McCartney and Special Agent Eagles spent the next four years investigating these individuals and preparing the case for trial. Their investigation included collecting and reviewing over 650,000 documents, among which were hundreds of patient medical charts from two different medical practices. The agents executed search warrants on five physical locations and three email accounts. They also interviewed over one hundred witnesses. Ms. Jackson and Mr. Drake resolved their cases by plea agreement. Dr. Naum was found guilty after a lengthy trial and sentenced to 6 months incarceration and 6 months home confinement and ordered to forfeit over $75,000.00 in ill-gotten gains. Dr. Brizuela pled guilty last week. He was sentenced to time served which equaled six months, and three years of supervised release. During this time, he is not permitted to request a license to prescribe medications from the DEA. Investigator Guy McCartney and Special Agent Matt Eagles devoted many long and tedious hours to investigating and seeing through this complex case to prosecution, and Investigator Chris Skaggs stepped in and carried the case through to sentencing. For all of their hard work, they each received the Outstanding Investigative Effort Award.
WV State Police Sgt. Rob Talkington has been doing child exploitation cases for a long time. His experience is reflected in his poise and in his decision-making. His hard work in the Tara Ponceroff and Ian Toothman child pornography cases. A sharp eye and some excellent investigative work led law enforcement to believe that there were child pornographic images on Toothman’s phone, and that Ponceroff was the depicted female in the pictures. He was able to ascertain the identity of the victim (whose face was not visible). Both defendants pled guilty and were given severe sentences for their conduct. Toothman is serving 278 months and Ponceroff is serving 360 months. Sgt. Talkington also handled the James Smith child pornography case in which Smith, a previously convicted offender, was engaging in an extremely sexual chat with various teenaged boys. Smith pled guilty and was sentenced to 168 months in prison. Sgt. Rob Talkington was honored with the Outstanding Investigative Effort Award.
Lt. Gary Weaver with the Bridgeport Police Department is a staunch force for good in the fight against child exploitation. Lt. Weaver was a key part of the investigations into Jeremy Smith, Jack Rice, and Quionte Crawford, all child pornography cases. Rice was sentenced to 57 months in prison. Jeremy Smith pled guilty to a child pornography charge and was sentenced to 51 months in prison. Lt. Weaver put forth an extraordinary effort on the Crawford case. Crawford had befriended and groomed teenaged boys he met at youth baseball games and tournaments. Crawford groomed their parents as well. Then he would approach them on-line in the persona of a sexually eager 18-year-old girl. Lt. Weaver’s patience with the victims was exemplary. Crawford received a life sentence for his crimes. Lt. Weaver was also integral in the case against defendant James Vincent Scott. Lt. Weaver posed online as a 15 y/o female, in which Scott sent sexually explicit text to what he thought was an underage female. He solicited pictures. He then agreed to meet the “female” for sex and drove from Ohio to Bridgeport for the purpose of meeting her. Scott pled guilty and was sentenced to 50 months. Lt. Weaver received the Outstanding Investigative Effort Award.
On the evening of Monday, August 5, 2019, Task Force Commander J. M. Tallman, as well as other troopers, responded to Pocahontas County to assist in the search of an armed subject. The suspect had fired upon the Pocahontas County Sheriff and one of his deputies after a single vehicle crash and fled into a heavily wooded area. TFC Tallman and another trooper went with a Huttonsville Prison K-9 unit in an attempt to track and locate the suspect. TFC Tallman heard movement in the brush and observed the suspect appear from behind some trees with a rifle. TFC Tallman instructed the suspect to put the gun down. An exchange of gunfire ensued, and the suspect charged toward TFC Tallman. TFC Tallman was struck in the abdomen with a high-powered rifle. The round had struck TFC Tallman’s cap stun and duty belt buckle before traveling through the lower part of his Kevlar vest and into his abdomen. The suspect continued charging at TFC Tallman at which time a physical altercation ensued. TFC Tallman transitioned to his 9mm duty weapon and fired several rounds as the suspect was attempting to disarm him. TFC Tallman’s duty weapon malfunctioned and TFC Tallman transitioned back to his AR-15 and fired a single round, fatally wounding the suspect. TFC Tallman was treated on scene by Troopers and flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital via WVSP Aviation. TFC Tallman has since recovered from his injuries and continues his work. For his bravery and selflessness, Task Force Commander Josh Tallman was given the Heroic Effort Award.
FBI Special Agent Peter Olinits, IRS Special Agent Tami Devericks, FBI Special Agent Jared Jankowski, and FBI Special Agent Justin Van Tromp worked tirelessly on two cases involving Chinese nationals.
Dr. Qingyun Sun, a Chinese national, was employed by West Virginia University as a professor since 2001 and contracted to the West Virginia Development Office, within the West Virginia Department of Commerce, to act as the governor’s assistant for China affairs since 2008. Dr. James Patrick Lewis, an American citizen, was employed by WVU as a physics professor since 2006. The investigations involved countless hours of investigative work and hundreds of documents. Dr. Sun pled guilty to wire fraud and tax fraud in July 2020 and is awaiting sentencing in December 2020. Dr. Lewis pled guilty to federal program fraud in March 2020 and was sentenced to three months of incarceration and fined $9,363 for the costs of the incarceration and was ordered to pay more than $20,000 in restitution to WVU. FBI Special Agent Peter Olinits, IRS Special Agent Tami Devericks, FBI Special Agent Jared Jankowski, and FBI Special Agent Justin Van Tromp were vital to the resolutions in both cases and were presented with Outstanding Investigative Effort Awards.The ceremony was held in the Clarksburg Federal Courthouse and included remarks from U.S. Attorney Bill Powell and the presence of many local, state and federal law enforcement leaders from throughout West Virginia.
Other ceremonies were held in Martinsburg and Wheeling to honor more recipients of the U.S. Attorney Awards.
Columbus men found guilty for their roles in a drug distribution operation that spanned three statesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – After a four-day trial, a jury has found Rodriquies M. Evans and Cedric L. Douglas, both of Columbus, Ohio, guilty of charges involving methamphetamine distribution that spanned multiple states, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
The jury deliberated for two hours before finding Evans, also known as “Dree”, age 30, and Douglas, age 32, each guilty of one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances,” two counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” The crimes took place in Wetzel County and elsewhere, including the Southern District of West Virginia, Ohio, and Georgia from July 2015 to April 2018.
“This case is another example of exemplary investigative teamwork. It’s this collaboration of efforts that continues to stop the trafficking of dangerous drugs. And the verdict sends a strong message to those who want to sell drugs in West Virginia. If you do the crime, justice will be served,” said Powell.
Evans and Douglas each face up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., and Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office; the Sistersville Police Department; the Paden City Police Department; and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated. The Columbus, Ohio Police Department Gang Crimes Unit assisted in the case.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Law enforcement and community members honored by U.S. Attorney at awards ceremony in WheelingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Nine law enforcement and community representatives were recognized today for their outstanding work in the greater Wheeling area.
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell recognized the U.S. Marshal Service, FBI Special Agent Matthew Berthinet, IRS Special Agent Tami Devericks, WV Special Commission on Special Investigations Investigator Jeff Shriner, WV State Police Sgt. J.W. Smith, FBI Forfeiture Specialist Amy Boyd, U.S. Postal Inspector Lindsay Weckerly, Ziegenfelder Frozen Treat Company, and WV Human Trafficking Task Force Coordinator Wuela Heceta for their contributions to create safer communities.
“It is my great honor to recognize those in our community who go above and beyond to protect our children, our community and our national security. While this year has created some unique challenges, it hasn’t thwarted efforts to protect and serve our neighbors. Those honored today never seek recognition, but it is important to let the public know about the accomplishments of our law enforcement and community members. I thank each and every one of them for their continued service,” said Powell.
The U.S. Marshal Service was recognized for their exemplary service in the Northern District of West Virginia. The Marshals consistently face danger as they make arrests on behalf of federal criminal cases. The Marshals are always helping with community outreach, as well. From several tours throughout the year to attending our Meet and Greet the Safety Fleet event in Wheeling in the fall, they never say no. They are the highlight of the tours in the Wheeling courthouse, always wowing visitors with their demonstrations and informative tours of their space. For their partnership in criminal cases, as well as in the community, The U.S. Marshals received the Outstanding Contribution Award.
FBI Special Agent Matthew Berthinet, IRS Special Agent Tami Devericks, WV Special Commission on Special Investigations Investigator Jeff Shriner, and WV State Police Sgt. J.W. Smith were awarded the Outstanding Investigative Effort Award for their work on the case of U.S. v. Harry Radcliffe, et al.. This 14-month, four-agency investigation involved the relationship between Ohio County Magistrate Harry A. Radcliffe and W&S Bail Bonding d/b/a A Bail Bonding by ABC (“ABC”), owned by William W. Seelbach, and for which his then girlfriend, Jolynn Gilchrist, worked as a bonding agent. The investigation included about 65 Grand Jury subpoenas, 25 Grand Jury witnesses, and 125 interviews. The result has been the identification of a three-year bribery/kickback scheme (2013-2015), involving approximately $22,000 of cash payments from Seelbach to Magistrate Radcliffe, which income he did not report to the IRS.
Radcliffe and Seelbach both entered guilty pleas to Klein conspiracy offenses arising from these payments. Radcliffe’s plea agreement included a factual stipulation that Seelbach offered these payments as bribes. Seelbach was sentenced to a term of probation. Radcliffe was sentenced to four months in prison. Radcliffe also resigned.
FBI Forfeiture Specialist Amy Boyd and the Forfeiture Unit in Pittsburgh oversees the FBI forfeitures in this district. Her team goes above and beyond other agency forfeiture units to support the Northern District of West Virginia in forfeiture efforts. They review search and seizure documents routinely to locate assets that would be part of an investigation, well in advance of the time of indictment, to ensure that all property subject to indictment is accounted for in the forfeiture phase of the case. They are the only agency willing to forfeit, upon request, amounts under threshold (5,000 for cash is the threshold) so that drug proceeds aren’t returned to defendants. Because of all the hard work, Amy Boyd is the recipient of the Outstanding Forfeiture Investigations Award.
In U.S. v. James Joseph Michaels, U.S. Postal Inspector Lindsay Weckerly and her team interdicted a parcel full of narcotics bound for Wellsburg. The agents located firearms which led to the indictment of the defendant. Inspector Weckerly testified at a four-hour suppression hearing. Weckerly’s testimony was precise, and she withstood some tough accusations while keeping her cool and reiterating the facts. Without Weckerly’s testimony, the case might not have ended with a guilty plea. Michaels pled guilty and was sentenced to five years of probation. Lindsay Weckerly was presented the Outstanding Investigative Effort Award.
The ceremony was held in U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David L. Bissett’s courtroom at the Wheeling Federal Courthouse and included remarks from U.S. Attorney Bill Powell and the presence of many local, state and federal law enforcement leaders from throughout West Virginia.
Other ceremonies are being held in Martinsburg and Clarksburg to honor more recipients of the U.S. Attorney Awards.
Law enforcement honored by U.S. Attorney at awards ceremony in MartinsburgRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell speaking at the Martinsburg U.S. Attorney Awards CeremonyMARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Eight law enforcement representatives were recognized today for their outstanding work in the greater Martinsburg area.
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell recognized the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Deputy Colleen Thompson, FBI Special Agent Ellen Duffy, ATF Special Agent Seth Cox, the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, West Virginia State Police Sergeant Jeff Chumley, FBI Special Agent Peter Olinits, and FBI Special Agent Lauren Koscho with U.S. Attorney Awards for their contributions to create safer communities.
“It is my great honor to recognize those in law enforcement who go above and beyond to protect our children, our community and our national security. Notwithstanding the turbulent times, important work was being done. Those honored today never seek recognition, but it is important to let the public know about the accomplishments of our law enforcement members. I thank each and every one of them for their continued service,” said Powell.
Berkeley County Sheriff’s Deputy Colleen Thompson was honored for her tireless work in getting a child predator off the streets. Deputy Thompson pushed through many obstacles to ensure that Paul Hamilton paid for his crimes against a juvenile. Hamilton pled guilty to a child pornography charge and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his crimes. When released from prison, Hamilton will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for the rest of his life. Deputy Thompson doesn’t typically take on cases involving crimes against children, but she refused to stop until Hamilton was off the streets.
FBI Special Agent Ellen Duffy is receiving an award for her efforts in moving the Hamilton case forward in the federal court system, working with Deputy Thompson. Special Agent Duffy’s commitment to protecting children shows in her daily work. She has been a key to putting many other child pornography perpetrators behind bars. Agent Duffy helped secure a 27-year sentence against Alan Williams for child pornography charges. Her work on the Jasper and Christine Shook cases was also exemplary.
ATF Special Agent Seth Cox was recognized for his work in dismantling a complex firearms trafficking scheme involving Shauntae Placko, Sean Placko, and Roger Williams. Special Agent Cox’s efforts stopped the trafficking of dozens of firearms into the Washington, D.C. area. He was integral in securing a combined 12 years in prison for the three defendants.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force was the key to dismantling a large drug trafficking ring dubbed the triple Crown Crew. The Triple Crown Crew investigation is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case that led to the indictment of thirty-three people and prosecution of eight cases. The Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force completed nearly a yearlong investigation into the trafficking of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine hydrochloride in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The drugs were distributed throughout the eastern panhandle to include Jefferson and Berkeley Counties in West Virginia. Because of their efforts, 11 of the defendants have pled guilty and were sentenced to a combined 248 months in prison. Another seven defendants have admitted guilt and are awaiting sentencing. The other cases are still pending.The Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force was honored for helped bring down a drug trafficking ring dubbed Operation Mountaintop. This case arises out of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation into the distribution of crystal methamphetamine by various individuals in the area of Mineral County, West Virginia and elsewhere. Giovanni Geonard Ingersoll, also known as Mike Avery, and Victor Witcher transported pounds of crystal methamphetamine from the Akron, Ohio area into the Mineral County, West Virginia area. This was a well put together case that involved a large investment of investigative time and resources. The dismantling of the drug operation had a widespread impact in Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, and Randolph counties. As a result, two of the defendants have been sentenced to a combined 360 months in prison. Two other defendants have admitted guilt and awaiting sentencing.
West Virginia State Police Sergeant Jeff Chumley was recognized for his work in ensuring that the very things that were used to commit a child pornography crime stayed out of the hands of the offender. Christopher Oden was prosecuted by both the state of West Virginia and our office for possessing sexually explicit images of minor victims. As part of the investigation, West Virginia State Police seized various property from Mr. Oden, including a laptop computer, a phone, and a camera. After his prosecution was complete, Mr. Oden wanted his property back, with special emphasis on the laptop. Sgt. Chumley’s efforts went above and beyond to make sure that Oden’s laptop, phone, and camera weren’t returned to him.
FBI Special Agent Peter Olinits and FBI Special Agent Lauren Koscho spent tireless hours and traveled hundreds of miles in the eight-month investigation into Elizabeth Jo Shirley, an American citizen and resident of Hedgesville, West Virginia, who has worked in the United States Intelligence Community for over two decades. The investigation involved approximately 72 records subpoenas, testimony from four grand jury witnesses, three 2703(d) Orders, and 16 search warrants (a residence, a storage unit, a vehicle, various electronic devices, and various electronic accounts). Shirley has pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
The ceremony was held at the Berkeley County Council Chambers and included remarks from U.S. Attorney Bill Powell and the presence of many local, state and federal law enforcement leaders from throughout West Virginia.
Other ceremonies are planned in Wheeling and Clarksburg to honor more recipients of the U.S. Attorney Awards.
Mineral County man sentenced for role in a drug distribution operationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Levi Doman, of Keyser, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 92 months of incarceration for his involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Doman, age 30, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” in January 2020. Doman admitted to distributing methamphetamine in August 2017 in Mineral County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, The West Virginia State Police, and the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Maryland man sentenced to a decade for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Joseph Tyree Ryles, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today to 120 months of incarceration for a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Ryles, age 30, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in January 2020. Ryles, having previously been convicted of crimes in the Circuit Court of Baltimore City, Maryland, admitted to illegally possessing a 9mm pistol and a .40 caliber pistol in August 2015 in Jefferson County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Ohio woman admits to role in drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Marisa Page, of Columbus, Ohio has admitted to her role in a drug conspiracy that spanned several states, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Page, 28, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.” Page admitted to working with others to traffic methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin in Wetzel County, Ohio, Georgia, as well as into the southern district of West Virginia.
Page faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
West Virginia physician admits to illegally distributing drugsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Dr. Felix Brizuela, Jr., of Harrison City, Pennsylvania, has admitted to illegally distributing controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Brizuela, age 59, of Harrison City, Pennsylvania, pled guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Controlled Substances Outside the Bounds of Professional Medical Practice.” Brizuela admitted to illegally distributing oxycodone in Monongalia County in August 2013. Based upon the plea agreement, Brizuela was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release, during which time he is not permitted to seek authority to prescribe any medications or controlled substances.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Wagner and Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, WV Offices of the Insurance Commissioner Fraud Division, WV Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Ohio Attorney General Health Care Fraud, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the Hancock-Brook-Weirton Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, West Virginia State Police, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Weirton Police Department investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.Marshall County man admits to drug distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – David A. Hood, of Moundsville, West Virginia, has admitted to drug charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Hood, 38, pled guilty today to two counts of “Distribution of Cocaine Base, AKA “Crack” and one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Hood admitted to selling “crack” cocaine and methamphetamine in Marshall County in July and August 2019.
Hood faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H McWilliams, Jr. is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Randolph County woman admits to meth distributionRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Kerri Marie Hamrick-Satterfield, of Elkins, West Virginia, has admitted to methamphetamine distribution, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Hamrick-Satterfield, 32, pled guilty today to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Hamrick-Satterfield admitted to having more than five grams of methamphetamine in March 2018 in Barbour County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philippi Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Randolph County man admits to meth distribution and firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Joshua Jesse White, of Montrose, West Virginia, has admitted to drug and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
White, 39, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Crime.” White admitted to having more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, also known as “ice” and “crystal meth” in October 2018 in Randolph County. White also admitted to having a .22 caliber revolver with him during the drug crime.
White faces at least five years and up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000 for the drug count and at least five years and up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Ohio man admits to his role in drug conspiracy involving heroin, fentanyl, “crack” cocaine, and meth in WheelingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Moon, of Toledo, Ohio, has admitted to his role in a drug conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Moon, also known as “Meezy,” 25, pled guilty today to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Moon admitted to working with others to selling methamphetamine near Madison Elementary School in Wheeling on February 14, 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn M. Adkins and Clayton J. Reid are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wheeling Police Department, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service, Columbus Police Department Gang Crimes Unit, the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the Bellaire Police Department also assisted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Maryland man admits to firearms offenseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Alieu Crayton, of Silver Spring, Maryland, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Crayton, 21, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearms.” Crayton, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, admitted to having two pistols in October 2019 in Berkeley County.
Crayton faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Harrison County woman admits to methamphetamine and heroin distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Stephanie Cottrill, of Shinnston, West Virginia, has admitted to methamphetamine and heroin distribution, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Cottrill, age 37, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin.” Cottrill admitted to working with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin from November 2019 to January 2020 in Ritchie County.Cottrill faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announces results in fight against the opioid crisis two years after launch of Operation S.O.S.Read the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the launch of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S), a program aimed at reducing the supply of synthetic opioids in 10 high impact areas, including the Northern District of West Virginia, and identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.
Under Operation SOS, the United States Attorneys in 10 districts with some of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country each designated a county where they would focus on prosecuting every readily available case involving fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other synthetic opioids, regardless of the drug quantity.
“The Justice Department’s commitment to fighting the opioids epidemic is stronger than ever, and we are using every tool in our arsenal to disrupt the supply of these drugs on our streets,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “Operation SOS has had a significant positive impact on the communities where it is being employed. The Department will continue to build on these successes and work to stop the drug traffickers who so callously wreck lives.”
In the Northern District of West Virginia, Berkeley County, which sees the highest overdose death rate in the district, is a designated SOS area. As an example of the good work Operation SOS fuels, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia announced on July 21, 2020, a 44-count indictment against 12 defendants. During the nearly year-long investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 280 grams of cocaine base and more than 40 grams of fentanyl from one of the defendant’s residences in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Throughout the investigation, officers seized more than 280 grams of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, and heroin; more than 350 grams of cocaine base; more than one kilogram of liquid PCP; various amounts of cocaine; five firearms; and over $28,000.
“The Northern District of West Virginia has been especially hard hit by opioid trafficking. Berkeley County was designated as a S.O.S impact area and we were consequently provided additional resources, including an additional prosecutor, to confront the problem. These resources have paved the way for considerable prosecutions and the removing of considerable fentanyl, guns and other drugs from our communities. Those responsible were prosecuted and lives have been saved as a result,” said Powell.In the Northern District of West Virginia, Operation SOS has initiated 64 investigations with 99 defendants being charged in federal court since its inception in 2018. Thus far in 2020, investigators have seized over 2 pounds of fentanyl in Berkeley County. That is enough fentanyl to kill 1.3 million people.
Nationally, since 2018, Operation SOS has resulted in approximately 750 defendants being charged in federal court, with 384 of those defendants charged thus far in FY 20. Most importantly, the districts participating in the program have seen a decline in opioid overdoses. From 2017 to 2019, most SOS counties reported a decline of 14% to 24%. One notable success was in the Western District of Pennsylvania, where the opioid overdose rates declined by nearly 45%.
The nine other participating districts and some of their successes are listed below:
• The Eastern District of California has reported 60 active Operation S.O.S. investigations. Recently, the USAO charged one sentence-enhanced “death resulting” prosecution. In February 2020, another investigation resulted in the seizure of over 20,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills.
• The Eastern District of Kentucky reported that an SOS investigation led to a residential search warrant and seizure of more than 1,300 grams of fentanyl, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, $15,000 cash, two firearms, and paraphernalia used to traffic narcotics including a device for pressing fentanyl into a brick-like shape
• The District of Maine reported a July 2020 arrest of a defendant on charges of distributing counterfeit fentanyl pills marked as Percocet, in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred in May 2020. In addition, a Maine man was sentenced in February 2020 to five years in prison for two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in connection with an incident where the defendant was found in possession of fentanyl less than 24 hours after he was released on a state summons for possession of fentanyl.
• The District of New Hampshire reported the October 2019 arrest of a man on a warrant for distributing fentanyl. Manchester Police Detectives executed a search warrant on a local drug-house, where they located approximately 850 grams of methamphetamine and 56 grams of fentanyl, several assault-style rifles, a handgun, ammunition, scales, safes, cash, and cellphones.
• The Northern District of Ohio reported a 10-defendant wire case involving a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating out of Elyria and Sandusky, Ohio. The DTO purchased kilogram quantities of cocaine and oxycodone pills. Co-conspirators would later cook the cocaine and sell it as crack to local dealers in Elyria. During the conspiracy, agents seized approximately ½ kilo of cocaine, 100 grams of crack, oxycodone pills, and five firearms.
• The Southern District of Ohio reported the arrest of an individual who had previously served a nine-year state prison sentence for drug trafficking. On October 22, 2019, after law enforcement observed activity consistent with drug transactions, including the delivery of what appeared to be a kilogram of narcotics by a courier, members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence in Dayton, Ohio, where they located three firearms, 1,205 grams of methamphetamine, 1,716 grams of fentanyl, 305 grams of heroin, drug processing equipment, and 12 cellular telephones. One of the recovered cellular telephones contained photographs of multiple kilograms of fentanyl and communications with a narcotics supplier. Through subsequent investigation, law enforcement recovered an additional 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl/carfentanil.
• The Western District of Pennsylvania prosecuted 98 SOS cases thus far in FY 2020. Particularly noteworthy among them is the prosecution of Lynell Guyton. Guyton was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of cyclopropyl fentanyl and other charges, including firearms and money laundering violations. Guyton, who had been receiving shipments of fentanyl analogues from China, is both a Career Offender and an Armed Career Criminal. The case gained media attention when, during the execution of a search warrant in connection with the charges, the conspirators tipped over a table, sending cyclopropyl fentanyl into the air, sickening several law enforcement officers on the scene.
• The Eastern District of Tennessee reported multiple cases arising out of a single investigation involving a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking heroin and fentanyl from Michigan to various communities in the Eastern District of Tennessee. 29 defendants have been indicted on various charges, including drug trafficking conspiracy, overdose death enhancements, money-laundering conspiracy, and various firearms offenses. More than 5.5 kilograms of heroin and/or fentanyl and 11 firearms were seized during the investigation.
• The Southern District of West Virginia reported that after a three-day trial, a jury in the convicted Steven McCallister of distribution of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Officers conducted a 50-gram purchase of heroin from McCallister, which then led to the execution of a search warrant at McCallister’s home. Officers seized over one kilogram of fentanyl and a firearm.
Elkins man admits to meth chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Nicholas Adam Owens, of Elkins, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Owens, 25, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute More Than Five Grams of Methamphetamine.” Owens admitted to having more than five grams of methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth” or “ice,” in August 2019 in Randolph County.
Owens faces no less than five years and up to 40 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Elkins Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Philadelphia man admits to firearms traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Marcellos Carey Edens, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has admitted to an illegal firearms distribution operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Edens, also known as “Camo,” 35, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy” involving the illegal purchase and transfer of firearms from Berkeley County to Pennsylvania in December 2019. Edens admitted to having others purchase firearms in Berkeley County, West Virginia, and then transport the firearms across state lines to him in Philadelphia.
Edens faces up to five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the conspiracy. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The government is also seeking the forfeiture of several firearms and ammunition connected to this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Martinsburg man admits to firearms traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Justin Arthur Davis, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to his part in an illegal firearms distribution operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Davis, 37, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy” involving the illegal purchase and transfer of firearms from Berkeley County to Pennsylvania in December 2019. Davis admitted to having conspiring to purchase firearms in Berkeley County, West Virginia, and then having those firearms transported the firearms across state lines to Philadelphia.
Davis faces up to five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the conspiracy. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The government is also seeking the forfeiture of several firearms and ammunition connected to this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Marion County man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jonathan David Cochran, of Barrackville, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Cochran, age 25, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Cochran, prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior felony conviction, is accused of having a .380 caliber pistol in December 2019 in Marion County.
Cochran faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia Probation and Parole Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Maryland man admits to firearms offenseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Lemonte Green, of Hagerstown, Maryland, has admitted a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Green, 36, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.” Green admitted to having a 9mm pistol while trafficking drugs in October 2019 in Berkeley County.
Green no less than five years and up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.