Southern District of West Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Parkersburg Man Sentenced to More than 10 Years in Prison for Federal Firearm and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
Charleston, W.Va. – Ryan Ashley Williams, 36, was sentenced today to 128 months in prison for federal firearm and drug crimes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Williams was arrested by law enforcement officers at an apartment on Hall Street in Parkersburg on or about December 1, 2019. Officers located approximately 40 grams of a mixture containing carfentanil, fentanyl, and heroin on Williams. Also on his person were the keys to a safe where officers located approximately eight grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin, approximately 80 grams of methamphetamine, and a semi-automatic pistol. Williams admitted that he intended to distribute these substances to other people, and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a previous felony conviction for first degree robbery with a firearm specification in Wood County Circuit Court.
Williams’ first degree robbery conviction was the result of a March 2012 incident where he robbed a Parkersburg business at gunpoint while wearing a ski mask. Williams ordered all the customers onto the ground and stole approximately $4,000 from the cash register. He was sentenced to a prison term of 20 years, and was under parole supervision as part of that sentence when these federal crimes were committed.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00091.
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Superseding Indictment Charging 14 for Their Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization Operating in Kanawha CountyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging 14 individuals for their roles in a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Kanawha County.
The superseding indictment includes charges against Angie Lane Harbour, 40, of Given, West Virginia. Harbour is charged with conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprises.
Charged along with Angie Lane Harbour in the 15-count indictment are: Ramon David Alston, 41, of Decatur, Georgia; Jonathan Gregory Bush, 38, of Dunbar, West Virginia; Kelly Cordle, 43, of Kimberly, West Virginia; Scott Edward Hudson, 49, and Jason Robert Oxley, 38, of St. Albans, West Virginia; Leo Antoine Smith, of Cross Lanes, West Virginia; and James Edward Bennett III, 30, Treydan Burks, 31, Kaitlyn Brooke Combs, 24, Denise Marie Cottrell, 63, Brittany Frances Gilbert, 33, Brian Dangelo Terry, 36 and Douglas Johnathan Wesley, 32, all of Charleston, West Virginia.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshals Service, the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Please note: An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00172 (Alston, et al.).
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Charleston Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston woman was sentenced yesterday to 12 months in prison for distribution of heroin and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Drema Setliff, 37, sold a fentanyl and heroin mixture to an individual in South Charleston on December 10, 2017, which resulted in the individual dying from a drug overdose.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Charleston Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Monica Coleman handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00077.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts 15 for Their Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization Operating in Kanawha CountyRead the Press Release
Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 40 firearms seized
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced that a federal grand jury has returned two indictments charging 15 individuals for their roles in a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Kanawha County.
Charged in a 15-count indictment are: Ramon David Alston, 41, of Decatur, Georgia; Jonathan Gregory Bush, 38, of Dunbar, West Virginia; Kelly Cordle, 43, of Kimberly, West Virginia; Scott Edward Hudson, 49, and Jason Robert Oxley, 38, of St. Albans, West Virginia; Leo Antoine Smith, of Cross Lanes, West Virginia; and James Edward Bennett III, 30, Treydan Burks, 31, Kaitlyn Brooke Combs, 24, Denise Marie Cottrell, 63, Brittany Frances Gilbert, 33, Brian Dangelo Terry, 36 and Douglas Johnathan Wesley, 32, all of Charleston, West Virginia. The indictment charges 11 of the defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Kanawha County from March 2019 to September 2021. The indictment also charges various drug and gun crimes carried out in connection with the DTO.
In a separate 10-count indictment, Shane Kelly Fulkerson, 43, of Saint Albans, West Virginia and Timothy Wayne Dodd, 45, of Charleston, West Virginia are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Kanawha County from March to September 2021. Additional charges against Fulkerson include distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
During the course of the nearly 18-month-long investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, 40 firearms, more than $80,000 cash, and several vehicles. Several of the vehicles and firearms had been reported stolen.
“The indictments unsealed earlier today are the result of tremendous effort, teamwork, and cooperation between our federal, state and local law enforcement partners,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I commend their efforts and thank them for their countless hours of hard work in bringing down this violent drug organization.”
“Charleston and the surrounding areas have been plagued by illegal drugs and the fear of violence for too long,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “The FBI and our local, state and federal partners will not let drug dealers hold a community hostage. We are committed to cleaning up the streets and holding those individuals accountable for the violence and drug trafficking they engage in.”
“The number of offenders, the quantity of drugs seized, and the guns taken off our streets is impressive work, but it does not begin to tell the full story of how this impacts the City of Charleston and our surrounding cities,” said Chief James “Tyke” Hunt of the Charleston Police Department. “Violence was curbed, and lives were saved multiple times throughout this investigation and that is the bigger picture, that is why all of us standing before you today do what we do.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshals Service, the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Please note: An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00171 (Fulkerson, et al.) and 2:21-cr-00172 (Alston, et al.).
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Princeton Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Charles Boyett Mitchell, Jr., 35, of Princeton, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of cocaine.
According to court documents, Mitchell sold a quantity of cocaine to a confidential informant in Princeton on May 7, 2018. As part of the plea, Mitchell also admitted to distributing cocaine and methamphetamine on three other occasions, and to possessing a quantity of methamphetamine that he intended to distribute.
Mitchell faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on January 10, 2022.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is composed of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the Bluefield Police Department and the Princeton Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-00089.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cecil Monroe Bowman, 66, was pulled over by the West Virginia State Police on October 14, 2020. After giving Troopers consent to search his vehicle, Troopers found 23 grams of heroin under the driver’s seat. Bowman admitted he intended to sell the heroin.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00081.
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Huntington Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Kevan Curry, 49, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, officers with the Huntington Police Department executed a search warrant on November 18, 2020, at Curry’s residence on 20th Street in Huntington. Law enforcement officers seized a Comanche III .357 magnum revolver, a Browning .40 caliber handgun, and an American Tactical AR-15 rifle. Curry was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law because of a 2009 felony conviction for conspiracy in Cabell County Circuit Court.
Curry faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on January 10, 2022.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00114.
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Akron Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Akron man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison today for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy.
According to court documents, Tionte Lavon Blanchard, 25, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and admitted that he and others participated in a conspiracy from the fall of 2018 to June 2019 to distribute methamphetamine that was frequently shipped from Akron, Ohio to various locations in West Virginia. Blanchard utilized a residence on 25th Street in Huntington to store methamphetamine after it arrived from Akron. On June 6, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at the residence and seized over 1.7 kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine. Blanchard admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine and intended to distribute it in the Huntington area.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-000245.
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Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing WeaponRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Deontae Holmes, a federal inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at Beckley, pleaded guilty today to possessing a handcrafted weapon, commonly known as a “shank.”
According to court documents, FCI Beckley staff members found Holmes in possession of a shank on February 22, 2021. The shank was a piece of metal approximately six inches long that was sharpened to a point on one end and had a rubberized tape handle on the other end. The shank was found in Holmes’ pants pocket during a random pat search. Holmes admitted that the shank was designed and intended to be used as a weapon.
Holmes faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on January 14, 2022.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is handling the prosecution.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00151.
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Charleston Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Gun and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
Morris has previous convictions for attempted murder and wanton endangerment with a firearm
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Keith Morris, 35, of Charleston, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a five-year mandatory minimum.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, on January 23, 2020, after responding to a two-vehicle crash on January 23, 2020, officers with the Charleston Police Department located 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a loaded Glock, model 26, 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a locked safe in Morris’s car. Again on August 7, 2020, law enforcement officers seized approximately 176 grams of fentanyl and a loaded SCCY CPX-1 9mm caliber handgun from inside the glovebox of Morris’s car during a traffic stop in Charleston. Morris admitted to law enforcement officers that he intended to distribute the controlled substances that had been seized from him. Morris further admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because he previously had been convicted in Kanawha County Circuit Court of attempted murder and wanton endangerment with a firearm.
“This case demonstrates the significant results achieved as a result of the strong partnership forged between the ATF and the Charleston Police Department,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I applaud the work of our law enforcement partners to remove repeat offenders and violent drug traffickers from the community. Through Project Safe Neighborhoods we are collectively focusing our efforts and resources on making the community safer by addressing the drivers of violent crime.”
“Drug dealers with guns are criminals who pose an increased threat to the safety of our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division. “Yesterday’s sentencing is another example of the ongoing efforts of ATF and the Charleston Police Department working together to take a violent repeat offender off the streets and make our communities safer for everyone.”
“The teamwork you see in this collaborative effort has saved the lives of many by addressing two of our biggest threats to society, gun violence and illegal drugs,” said Chief James “Tyke” Hunt of the Charleston Police Department. “Project Safe Neighborhoods enables federal agencies like the ATF and our United States Attorney’s Office to exponentially enhance the enforcement efforts of the Charleston Police Department and our Kanawha County Prosecutor’s Office. These joint operations eliminate jurisdictional restrictions and enhance penalties in the areas needed to keep our communities safe.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani handled the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00167.
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Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to a federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Shawn Le, 28, sold fentanyl, a .22 caliber revolver and 214 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition to a confidential informant working with law enforcement on February 19, 2021.
Le pleaded guilty to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life imprisonment when sentenced on January 20, 2022.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Steve Loew is handling the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00156.
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Takedown Dismantles Drug Trafficking Organization Based in ParkersburgRead the Press Release
Four Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaints; Eleven Arrested on State Criminal Complaints
Six Federal Search Warrants Executed
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced today the arrests of four individuals for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in Parkersburg and elsewhere. The takedown is the result of a nearly year-long investigation, dubbed “Long Time Coming,” led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force (PNTF).
Four individuals were arrested on federal criminal complaints, 11 individuals were arrested on state criminal complaints, and six federal search warrants were executed in Parkersburg during today’s takedown.
Charged in three separate federal criminal complaints with conspiracy to distribute quantities of methamphetamine are: Carlo Ramsey, 56; Robert Sanders, Jr., 29; and Ambera Roberts, 34, all of Parkersburg. Charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine and fentanyl is Floyd D. Ramsey, 41, of Chicago, Illinois. The defendants have been detained pending their upcoming detention hearings in federal court.
“Drug trafficking organizations put our communities in harm’s way,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners whose efforts put long-standing drug dealers in Parkersburg out of business. The arrest of these individuals demonstrates our commitment to keeping highly addictive and dangerous drugs from destroying lives.”
“The individuals arrested today have been slinging poison in this community for too long,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Erek Davodowich, from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. The dedicated men and women of DEA, working alongside our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts, remain committed to pursuing those who threaten the health and safety of our communities with violence and dangerous drugs, and bringing them to justice.”
“It is our hope that today's arrests will significantly impact the distribution of illegal drugs in the Wood County area,” said Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Patrick Lefebure. “This investigation and the subsequent arrests resulted from a collaborative effort between federal and State law enforcement agencies. The Wood County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia remain committed to prosecuting those individuals who bring and sell illegal drugs into our communities."
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the PNTF, the Parkersburg Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Vienna Police Department, the Williamstown Police Department, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Boyd County (KY) Sheriff’s Department, the Russell (KY) Police Department and the Raceland (KY) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Please note: A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-mj-00175, 2:21-mj-00177, 2:21-mj-00178, and 2:21-mj-00179.
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Charleston Woman Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston woman was sentenced today to 71 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine while on supervised release for a previous federal firearm conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Tiffany Shaffer, 32, distributed 53.88 grams of pure methamphetamine to a confidential informant in return for $1500 on October 5, 2020 in Dunbar. Shaffer further admitted that she distributed methamphetamine in September, October, and December 2020, in and around the Dunbar area. At the time of the 2020 drug sales, Shaffer was on supervised release for a 2017 federal firearms conviction.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00076.
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Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Offense Against a MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayette County man pleaded guilty today to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Christopher Lee Foster, 36, of Oak Hill, was charged via indictment in June 2021.
According to the plea agreement, Foster admitted that in early March 2021 he initiated contact with a person via a messaging application. Believing this person to be a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey, Foster engaged in conversations over the next two months wherein he told the minor he wanted to meet her to engage in sexual activity. After learning that the girl was sexually inexperienced, Foster sent her pictures of his penis as well as numerous images and videos of pornography to teach her about sex. He also repeatedly pressured the minor to send him sexually explicit photographs of herself, even offering to pay her for such images.
Foster further admitted that in approximately 2015 and 2016 he produced (or caused the production of) sexually explicit images of a different minor.
If the plea agreement is accepted by the Court, Foster will be sentenced to between 235 months (19 years, 7 months) and 292 months (24 years, 4 months) in prison when he is sentenced on January 5, 2022. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00095.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison on Heroin ChargeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jacob Benjamin Loper, 20, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers executed search warrants on June 12, 2019 at residences on 26th and 27th Streets in Huntington pursuant to a shooting investigation. Officers located Loper, a baggie of 7.9 grams of heroin and digital scales inside a 26th Street residence. In a Mirandized interview, Loper admitted that he possessed the heroin.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00106.
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Florida Man Sentenced to Prison on Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Christopher Michael Adkins, 37, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance on a residence on 8th Street in Huntington on January 19, 2021 in order to locate Adkins who had warrants out for his arrest. When Adkins was observed exiting the residence, a traffic stop was conducted, and officers located in his vehicle 20.6 grams of methamphetamine, 33.8 grams of fentanyl and 13.7 grams of cocaine, as well as digital scales and multiple cell phones. Officers also located a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol. In a Mirandized interview, Adkins admitted that the items in the vehicle were his.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00031.
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Wood County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine and Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Wood County man found last year to be in possession of methamphetamine and multiple firearms, including a machine gun, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for drug and gun crimes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a search warrant was executed at the Vienna residence of Evan Rockwell McEwuen, 25, on August 5, 2020. McEwuen was located in the residence at the time of the search and law enforcement officers found 149 grams of methamphetamine, over $14,000 in United States currency, plastic baggies, digital scales and four firearms in the room where McEwuen was located. One firearm was loaded and was equipped with a device designed to convert the firearm into a machine gun. A subsequent inspection confirmed that the firearm was successfully converted into a machine gun and was capable of fully automatic fire. Officers also found approximately 143 grams of additional methamphetamine along with a sawed-off shotgun, plastic baggies and digital scales in a truck and construction trailer parked outside of McEwuen’s residence. In total, officers located over 2000 rounds of ammunition during the execution of the search warrant. McEwuen admitted to possessing all the evidence seized by law enforcement and that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to others. McEwuen was not legally permitted to possess firearms due to a 2016 felony conviction in the Circuit Court of Wood County for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. McEwuen pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms by a felon in May 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Vienna Police Department, the Parkersburg Police Department, the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy B. Wolfe and Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00166.
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Fayette County Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A woman from Fayette County pleaded guilty today to an offense related to sex trafficking a 17-year-old minor female. Kristen Naylor-Legg, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor under the age of 18.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on two separate occasions in June 2020, Naylor-Legg entered into an agreement with her co-defendant, Larry Allen Clay, Jr., to provide him with her 17-year-old minor female relative and Clay would pay Naylor-Legg to engage in sexual intercourse with the minor. At the time, Clay was an employee of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the Chief of Police for the Gauley Bridge Police Department. Naylor-Legg admitted that on the first occasion she was paid $100 by Clay. On the second occasion, Naylor-Legg indicated that Clay had agreed to pay her $50 in exchange for sexual intercourse with the minor but ultimately did not give her the money.
Naylor-Legg faces up to life in prison when she is sentenced on December 9, 2021. She will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the West Virginia State Police, and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is handling the prosecution.
Co-defendant Larry Allen Clay, Jr., is charged with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor via coercion and sex trafficking of a minor via coercion. Clay’s trial is set for November 9, 2021. Note: Charges contained in indictments are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00062.
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Charleston Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Local BusinessesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Misty Brotherton-Tanner, 41, of Charleston, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for the felony offenses of wire fraud and money laundering and was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $537,173. Brotherton-Tanner pleaded guilty to the charges in April 2021.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brotherton-Tanner provided bookkeeping and accounting services for several local businesses in the Charleston area. From at least 2014 until 2020, Brotherton-Tanner devised a scheme to defraud these businesses. Brotherton-Tanner would electronically transfer money and move the electronic transactions between accounts in such a way so as to hide her fraud under the guise of legitimate transactions Brotherton-Tanner was not permitted to pay herself from these business accounts. Brotherton-Tanner’s fraud scheme included listing herself as an employee for the various businesses, setting up fraudulent accounts in the name of fictional workers that she would then add to the business accounting software, and even misrepresenting that she had paid state and federal taxes for the businesses when she had not done so. Throughout the scheme, Brotherton-Tanner moved the transferred money into her personal checking accounts. In total, Brotherton-Tanner defrauded various businesses of $537,173.
Brotherton-Tanner also stole money on behalf of and at the request of her mother, Lois Brotherton, who also pleaded guilty in connection with her role in the scheme and was sentenced to a period of probation.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the West Virginia State Tax Department-Criminal Investigation Division for their excellent work in this case.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Kathleen Robeson handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00146.
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Omarr Boone, 37, of Ravenna, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, officers with the Huntington Police Department responded to a shooting at a Shell gas station on March 9, 2021. After a vehicle pursuit, Boone was placed under arrest. Officers searched his vehicle and found a stolen Smith and Wesson SD9 VE in the vehicle. Boone was prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law because of previous felony convictions in Michigan and Ohio.
Boone faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 13, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00101.
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Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Nigerian national who was indicted in April 2021 in connection with a large fraud and money laundering scheme pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents and statements made in connection with the plea hearing, Kenneth Ogudu, also known as Kenneth Lee, 28, a citizen of Nigeria residing in Columbus, Ohio, was involved from at least May 2019 to October 8, 2020, with Kenneth Emeni, John Nassy, Romello Thorpe, Oluwagbenga Harrison, Ouluwabamishe Awolesi, and others in a money laundering conspiracy that took place in Huntington, West Virginia and elsewhere. Ogudu lived in Huntington from May to December 2019. As part of the scheme, co-conspirators created online false personas and contacted victims via email, text messaging or online dating and social media websites in order to induce the victims into believing they were in a romantic relationship, friendship or business relationship with various false personas. The victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas. Ogudu’s role in the conspiracy was to let victims transfer money to his bank account that he knew was from unlawful activity. Ogudu admitted that after the victims’ funds were deposited into his account, he kept some of the money for himself and forwarded some of the money to his co-conspirators via wire transfers or Zelle. Ogudu further admitted that he and his co-conspirators transferred large sums of their fraud proceeds to offshore accounts. Ogudu obtained funds from at least 12 different fraud victims during the money laundering conspiracy.
Ogudu faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 13, 2021. As part of his plea agreement, Ogudu agreed to pay $324,865.85 in restitution.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), the West Virginia State Police, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Gregory McVey and Kathleen Robeson are handling the prosecution.
The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams at https://www.ic3.gov/.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-0068 (Emeni, et al).
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Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Detroit, Michigan man was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for a federal drug crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kaleb Wuopio, 26, was involved in a drug distribution enterprise operating in Kanawha County from April through June 2018. Wuopio admitted that he distributed fentanyl, heroin and cocaine base in exchange for cash during that timeframe. On June 21, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Wuopio’s Charleston residence. During the search, the officers located heroin, cash proceeds from drug sales, other drug distribution tools, such as scales, and two loaded handguns.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman is handling the prosecution.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., presided over the hearing.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00115.
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Former Employee of Huntington Non-Profit Pleads Guilty to Theft of Federal FundsRead the Press Release
Phillips converted over $4.7 million of organization’s funds
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - A Chesapeake, Ohio, woman pleaded guilty today to theft of federal funds from River Valley Child Development Services ("RVCDS"), a non-profit organization located in Huntington. RVCDS provides programs, services and support to children, families and the early childhood community.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ruth Marie Phillips, also know as Marie Phillips, 69, worked at RVCDS from December 1986 until September 2020. Phillips held various positions at RVCDS, including Director of Business and Finance. Phillips was responsible for all financial operations, including monitoring accounts receivable, creating and submitting invoices, reconciling bank accounts and issuing checks. From July 1, 2016, to on or about June 30, 2017, RVCDS received approximately $7,131,756 in federal funding and Phillips used her position of trust and authority to steal approximately $964,012 during that period.
Phillips further admitted that between December 2013 and August 2020, she stole approximately $4,721,731 from RVCDS. During that period, she sent $1,142,500 to her personal checking account and sent another $3,395,500 to Attitude Aviation’s U.S. bank account. Attitude Aviation has offices at Lawrence County Airpark in South Point, Ohio, and Tri-State Airport in Huntington and provides aeronautical services, including fueling, rental of hangar space, aircraft rental, flight instruction and maintenance.
As part of her plea agreement, Phillips agreed to forfeit her interest in her Chesapeake, Ohio, personal residence, as well as a lake house on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia that she purchased during the period of her criminal activity. Phillips also agreed to forfeit her interest in several vehicles and her interest in Attitude Aviation property and equipment.
During the investigation, three search warrants were simultaneously executed across two states on April 8, 2021, including Phillips’ personal residence in Chesapeake, Ohio; Attitude Aviation’s Lawrence County Airpark office in Ohio; and Attitude Aviation’s Huntington Tri-State Airport office in West Virginia.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the thorough investigative work of the FBI, the West Virginia State Police, the Central West Virginia Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Lawrence County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Litigation Financial Analyst.
Phillips faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of at least $250,000, and restitution in the amount of $4,721,731 when she is sentenced on December 13, 2021.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin F. Scott, R. Gregory McVey and Kathleen Robeson are handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00135.
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Charleston Couple Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston couple was sentenced today for federal gun and drug crimes. Larry James Williams, 66, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute heroin, acetyl fentanyl, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Mary Ann Coon, 44, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during a traffic stop conducted on MacCorkle Avenue in Charleston during the early morning hours of May 8, 2020, law enforcement officers found Williams and Coon to be in possession of seven firearms, as well as over 79 grams of methamphetamine, 9 grams of heroin, acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl mix, and over 6 grams of methamphetamine and fentanyl mix, digital scales, plastic baggies, and $3,882 in U.S. Currency.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the collaborative investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). As part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in partnership with federal, state and local law enforcement to address violent crime driven by drug trafficking in Charleston and throughout the district.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie White and Greg McVey handled the prosecution.
This case is part of PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00129 (Williams, et al.).
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Virginia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. - A Virginia man was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for attempted sex trafficking of a minor.
According to court documents, Jamie Otis Southern, 50, of Tazewell County, Virginia, previously pleaded guilty and admitted in June 2020 he contacted a woman on Craigslist who identified herself as a mother who would allow him to have sex with her children in exchange for money. During the conversation, Southern arranged to have the woman travel from Beckley to a hotel in Princeton with the 11- and 14-year-old girls the woman stated were her daughters. Southern would then pay approximately $400 plus the cost of the hotel room in order to engage in oral sex and sexual intercourse with the children. Southern further admitted that in July 2020 he possessed images and videos of suspected child pornography on an SD card in his cell phone.
Upon release from prison, Southern will be placed on federal supervised release for a period of 15 years and be required to register as a sex offender.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald handled the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00117.
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Beckley Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for attempted production of child pornography. Douglas Patrick Humphrey, 33, will also be required to serve his lifetime on supervised release following his release from prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Humphrey previously admitted that on August 25 and 26, 2020, he communicated with a 15-year-old female via Snapchat. During that conversation he asked her to meet him to engage in sexual activity and also asked her to produce and send a video of herself engaged in sexual intercourse with another man. Humphrey admitted that in July 2020 he had made a similar request of the minor female and had received a video depicting her engaged in sexual activity. Humphrey was arrested on August 26, 2020, when he arrived at the location where he had arranged to meet the minor.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. During the sentencing hearing, the Court stated that Humphrey had caused “astounding” harm and is a “sexual predator of a serial nature.”
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald handled the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00005.
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Two Charleston Men Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Two Charleston men were sentenced today to prison for federal drug crimes. Darius Coles, 23, and Joshua Lawson, 31, were sentenced to 78 and 60 months in prison respectively.
According to court documents, Coles previously pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and admitted that he met a confidential informant at the Go-Mart near Bigley Avenue in Charleston to collect $1,200 for an outstanding drug debt on January 27, 2021. Coles collected the $1,200 and fronted the confidential informant an additional amount of methamphetamine to be paid for later.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Lawson previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and admitted that after he left a meeting with his methamphetamine source of supply on December 27, 2020, officers with the Charleston Police Department conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle in the 600 block of Ruffner Avenue. An officer performed a pat down of Lawson and found an ounce of methamphetamine hidden in his groin area. Lawson admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the U.S. Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Monica Coleman handled the prosecutions.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00032.
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Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Financial InstitutionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man pleaded guilty today to defrauding a financial institution by making false statements on a loan application.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jonathan Smith, 35, applied for and received a loan of $505,000 from the Wood County Federal Credit Union in June 2016. To influence the action of the credit union, Smith made false statements on the loan application such as mispresenting his monthly gross income and falsely stating that he was the owner of M&J Towing. Smith also misrepresented that he was using the $505,000 to purchase a 1963 Corvette that he valued at $1.2 million, when in fact, Smith had already purchased the corvette for $35,000 and the actual fair market value of the automobile was less than $50,000.
Smith faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 8, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Arthur is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00173.
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Operation Second Wave Update: Final Five Defendants in Major Federal Drug Conspiracy Investigation Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Five defendants charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave” were sentenced this week in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. Roger Jarea Drake, 32, of Charleston, and Craig Edward Redman, 42, of Kimberly, were sentenced to 151 and 46 months in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Tonya Nicole Simerly, 36, of Montgomery, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise. Ronald Lee Thomas III, 29, of Sissonville, was sentenced to two years of probation for conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and Steven Matthew Bumpus, 32, of Charleston, was sentenced to three years of probation for theft of mail by a United States Postal Service employee.
More than a dozen individuals were charged in federal court as a result of Operation “Second Wave,” a long-term investigation of a drug trafficking ring involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and THC products. According to court documents, Jason Michael Terrell, Larry Terrell Martin, and Roger Jarea Drake were principally involved in bringing the drugs into the Southern District of West Virginia from out-of-state suppliers. Carol Belton, Jimmy Lee Coleman, and Craig Edward Redman distributed methamphetamine to street-level dealers and users. Joe Fragale, Sr. and Joe Fragale II distributed methamphetamine and heroin. Ronald Lee Thomas III distributed marijuana. Gregory Eugene Woods distributed cocaine. Tonya Nicole Simerly drove to Columbus, Ohio with Terrell and Drake where they obtained methamphetamine through Rashawn Akmed Miller who acted as a “middle-man.” Bumpus was employed as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier who delivered drug packages to Martin that were addressed to fictitious individuals along Bumpus’ route.
In previous hearings, the court sentenced Terrell to 14 years in prison, Martin to 151 months in prison, Woods to 160 months in prison, Joe Fragale, Sr. to 120 months in prison, Miller to 70 months in prison, Fragale II to 42 months in prison, Coleman to 36 months in prison, and Belton to 18 months in prison.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Charleston Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00154.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to 16 months in prison for a federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Antoine Miller, 37, of Charleston, pleaded guilty earlier this year to being a felon in possession of a firearm and admitted that he possessed a stolen Ruger 9 mm handgun at Renaissance Circle in Charleston on April 28, 2020. Miller is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of a prior felony conviction.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Steve Loew handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00092.
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California Man Sentenced to Eleven Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A California man was sentenced to 132 months in prison for a federal drug crime. Troyvon Lewis, also known as “B.C.,” 32, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in June 2021.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Lewis traveled from Los Angeles to Huntington to sell methamphetamine and marijuana. Lewis arranged the drug deal over the telephone and agreed to deliver approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of marijuana to an individual in Huntington. On March 28, 2021, the day the drug deal was to take place, Troopers with the West Virginia State Police conducted a traffic stop on I-64 in Cabell County on a vehicle in which Lewis was a passenger. The car was searched and Troopers seized seven pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of marijuana from the trunk of the vehicle. Lewis admitted he intended to sell the controlled substances to the individual in Huntington.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and praised the collaborative work of the law enforcement agencies in the Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia that conducted the investigation. The agencies that were involved in the investigation were the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00054.
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Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to More than Eight Years in Prison for Sex Offense Against MinorRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 97 months in prison for a sex offense against a minor. Gregory Thomas O’Connor, 48, of Stahlstown, Pennsylvania, previously pleaded guilty to travel in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor. Following release from prison, O’Connor will be placed on 15 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, O’Connor admitted that on August 7, 2020, he initiated contact with a person on a Kik Messaging group for West Virginia teens. Believing this person to be a 13-year-old girl from Beckley, O’Connor engaged in conversations over the next 6 weeks wherein he told the minor he wanted to meet her to engage in sexual activity and also coached her on masturbation and watching pornography in order to prepare for their sexual encounter. On September 2, 2020, O’Connor intended to travel to Beckley to meet the minor. He drove from Pennsylvania to Fairmont but then had to turn around due to a work emergency. He continued to discuss traveling at a future date to meet the girl for sexual activity.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Timothy Boggess are handling the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00073.
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Inmate Sentenced for Possessing Weapon at FCI BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. - An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at Beckley was sentenced today for possessing a weapon at the correctional facility. Jerry Stewart, 31, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, which will run consecutively to the sentence he currently is serving.
According to court documents, Stewart possessed a handcrafted weapon, commonly referred to as a “shank,” on February 13, 2020, while an inmate at the FCI Beckley. A staff member recovered the weapon after seeing Stewart place the shank on the ground in the compound at the prison after an incident with another inmate. The weapon was a piece of metal about six inches long, sharpened to a point on one end with a cloth handle on the other end.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00204.
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Detroit Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Detroit man was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin. Martinis Twone Irving, 44, was previously charged as a result of a joint investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with the assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Michigan, and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
According to court documents, Martinis Irving, 44, of Detroit Michigan, was stopped on Interstate 77 near Beckley for speeding in a construction zone on December 17, 2020. During the traffic stop, a drug dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the car being driven by Irving. Law enforcement officers then obtained a search warrant for the car and discovered approximately 1,100 grams of heroin hidden in the car. Irving ultimately admitted that the heroin was his and he intended to distribute the heroin within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the ATF, the DEA, and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which is comprised of officers from the Beckley Police Department, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-cr-00011.
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Parkersburg Man Sentenced to More than 10 Years in Prison for Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shaun Price, 41, of Parkersburg, was sentenced today to 123 months in prison for federal drug and gun crimes. Price previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, an officer with the South Charleston Police Department attempted a traffic stop on Price’s vehicle in Cross Lanes on December 7, 2020. Price fled and led law enforcement in a high speed pursuit. The pursuit began in Cross Lanes and ended in South Charleston where officers were able to stop Price’s vehicle by using spike-strips. Officers recovered approximately 7.85 grams of meth and a loaded 9mm Taurus PT111 handgun from the vehicle. Price admitted that he intended to sell the methamphetamine and that he possessed the firearm to protect his drugs and money.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the South Charleston Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller is handling the prosecution. Senior United States District Court Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00051.
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Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Rebecca Dunlap, 46, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to traveling in interstate commerce to promote, carry on, and facilitate a methamphetamine and fentanyl drug conspiracy.
According to court documents, Dunlap drove from Charleston to Columbus, Ohio, on March 17, 2021, to pick up illegal drugs for Che Lark. Dunlap was stopped by law enforcement officers on her way back to Charleston with large quantities of both methamphetamine and fentanyl. Lark further admitted that she made the trip to Columbus to pick up drugs for Lark on two other occasions. Lark was indicted in June 2021 and is scheduled for trial on October 13, 2021. The charges against him include possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of fentanyl, felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Dunlap faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced on December 2, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Steve Loew is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00136.
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New York Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jaquan Jeremiah Wright, 22, of New York, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for a federal gun crime. Wright previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, officers with the Charleston Police Department stopped Wright’s vehicle on July 28, 2020. During the traffic stop, the officers found a Polymer80 PFC9, 9mm pistol in Wright’s car between the console and passenger seat. At that time, Wright was subject to a Domestic Violence Protective Order that was entered in the Jamestown City Court, County of Chautauqua, New York.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the U.S. Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman handled the prosecution.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00039.
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Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.
According to court documents, Calvin Allen, 44, sold oxycodone to a confidential informant on November 11, 2017. The drug sale occurred in Allen’s vehicle in the parking lot of Tractor Supply in Oak Hill.
Acting United States Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-00116.
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Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to a federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearing, Richard Howard King, II, 26, was involved in an argument with another individual at a bar in Cross Lanes on March 13, 2021. During the argument, King retrieved a gun from his car and fired a .45 caliber round from it. King admitted that he possessed the round of .45 caliber Tula ammunition that was fired from the gun and that he was prohibited from possessing the ammunition as a result of a 2016 federal conviction. King was still on supervised release for the prior felony conviction at the time.
King pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition and faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 9, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00008 & 2:15-cr-000218.
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North Carolina Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A North Carolina woman pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle of Aletha Mae Lemon, 59, near Marmet in March 2021 and seized nearly five pounds of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine from her vehicle.
Lemon pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison when she is sentenced on November 22, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00102.
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Federal Jury Convicts Mercer County Man of Retaliating Against Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Nearly $5 million fraudulent lien filed in retaliation for single wage garnishment
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – A federal jury convicted a Mercer County man of retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by filing a fraudulent lien and attempting to interfere with the administration of Internal Revenue laws. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the two-day jury trial.
According to court records and evidence at trial, Jeffrey Reed, 62, of Flat Top, West Virginia, owed a significant tax debt to the Department of Treasury and was employed by a hotel in the Oak Hill, West Virginia area. In 2015, after letters sent to Reed from the IRS were either sent back or ignored, an IRS revenue officer took steps to garnish a portion of Reed’s wages. When Reed learned of these efforts, he met with managers of the hotel and requested that they not comply with the IRS’ attempts to garnish his wages. In retaliation for a single wage garnishment of $598, Reed filed a $4.95 million lien with the Mercer County Clerk directed against the revenue officer and the owner of the hotel. Reed’s lien claimed 165 constitutional violations, including illegal search and seizure, war, treason and slavery. Reed also sought to attach any real and personal property owned by the revenue officer and the owner of the hotel.
Reed further claimed that the revenue officer owed him an additional $9 million because his name had been copyrighted.
Department of Treasury Special Agents testified they spoke to Reed in February 2020 at which time he admitted to filing the lien against the revenue officer. Reed indicated that he filed the lien in order to obstruct the collection of his wages.
Reed faces up to 13 years in federal prison and a fine up to $500,000 when he is sentenced on November 29, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston commended the excellent work of the revenue officer and the Department of Treasury agents that worked on the case. The United States Department of Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administrations (TIGTA)-Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The prosecution was specifically authorized by the United States Department of Justice, Tax Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Ryan Blackwell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-66.
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Charleston Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Denson has previous convictions for attempted murder and heroin distribution
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Adam Matthew Denson, 33, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to four years of supervised release.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Denson conspired with other persons to distribute methamphetamine on three separate occasions in Charleston in August 2019. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Denson’s Woodland Drive residence and seized two loaded hand guns that Denson admitted he possessed. Denson was previously convicted of attempted murder in Kanawha County Circuit Court and distribution of heroin in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of West Virginia, and was on federal supervised release when he was arrested.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00040.
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Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man pleaded guilty yesterday to federal drug crimes.
According to court documents, Durran Merille Garland, 28, sold an ounce of cocaine to a confidential informant for $1,000 on March 13, 2018 in Huntington. Garland admitted to selling methamphetamine to the same confidential informant on two other occasions. During a search of Garland’s Huntington residence in April 2018, law enforcement officers recovered an M&P .40 Caliber Shield handgun.
Garland pleaded guilty to two counts of an indictment charging him with distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine. He faces a sentence of up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 29, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Jeffrey is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-00004.
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime.
According to court documents, Dan Bean, 42, of Toledo, admitted that in 2018, officers with the Huntington Police Department searched his residence on Artisan Avenue in Huntington and seized approximately 55 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of crack cocaine. Bean admitted to officers that he sold cocaine and crack cocaine in the Huntington area.
Bean pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 29, 2021.
Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the plea hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:18-cr-000157.
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Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing WeaponRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Rondale Faulkner, a federal inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at McDowell, pleaded guilty today to possessing a handcrafted weapon, commonly known as a “shank.”
According to court documents, FCI McDowell staff members found Faulkner in possession of a shank on September 26, 2020. The shank was a piece of metal approximately six inches long that was sharpened to a point on one end and had thread tied around clothe on the other end to form a handle. As part of his plea, Faulkner admitted that the shank was designed and intended to be used as a weapon.
Faulkner faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on November 29, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is handling the prosecution.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-00110.
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Detroit Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Detroit, Michigan man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison today for drug and gun crimes. Darryl Eric Hill, 37, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Hill rented a room at the Double Tree Hotel in Huntington on October 21, 2020 and was present when law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the room. Officers seized heroin, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, over $19,000 and a loaded 9mm pistol which Hill possessed. Hill admitted that he had stayed at the hotel for several weeks and that he had been selling the drugs in and around the Huntington area. Hill also admitted that he kept the firearm with him to protect himself based on his status as a drug dealer.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-00072.
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Ashland Man Pleads Guilty to Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Ashland, Kentucky man pleaded guilty today to a federal gun crime.
According to court documents, Dave Joshua Kistner IV, 44, received a Colt Commander .45 caliber pistol at Freedom Gun and Pawn in Huntington on April 29, 2017, by redeeming a pawn ticket. Kistner had been adjudicated a mental defective in the Circuit Court of Cabell County in February 2017, thereby prohibiting him from possessing the firearm. When interviewed by law enforcement, Kistner admitted to re-selling the pistol to a different pawn store.
Kistner pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on November 29, 2021.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-00019.
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Federal Jury Convicts Kanawha County Man of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal jury convicted a Kanawha County man on charges of distributing methamphetamine, distributing crack cocaine, and possessing with intent to distribute over 400 grams of methamphetamine and over 80 grams of crack cocaine. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the jury trial.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Michael Andrew King, Jr., 35, of Charleston, distributed methamphetamine to an individual in Montgomery, West Virginia on January 4, 2019. Three days later, King distributed crack cocaine to that same individual in Montgomery. On February 2, 2019, King was in Cleveland, Ohio and placed over 400 grams of methamphetamine and over 80 grams of crack cocaine in a female’s vehicle without her knowledge. King arranged for the female to follow him back to Charleston that same day. Law enforcement conducted surveillance of King as he followed the female’s vehicle, and after a traffic stop of both vehicles, seized King’s methamphetamine and crack cocaine that he had previously placed in the vehicle.
“I want to thank the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), as well as the other law enforcement agencies who worked on this case to protect the public and continue our efforts to shut down the flow of illegal drugs into the Southern District of West Virginia,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston.
King faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on November 18, 2021.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nowles Heinrich and Ryan Blackwell handled the prosecution. The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation with assistance from the Charleston Police Department, the South Charleston Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Parkersburg Police Department.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00023.
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Former Marshall University Student Pleads Guilty to Role in Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – One of eight individuals indicted in April 2021 in connection with a large fraud and money laundering scheme pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents and statements made in connection with the plea hearing, Romello Thorpe, 25, of Washington, D.C., was involved from at least September 2019 to January 2, 2020, with Kenneth Emeni, John Nassy, Kenneth Ogudu, Oluwagbenga Harrison, Ouluwabamishe Awolesi, and others in a money laundering conspiracy that took place in Huntington, West Virginia and elsewhere. Thorpe was a student at Marshall University and living in Huntington at the time he conspired to commit money laundering. As part of the scheme, co-conspirators created online false personas and contacted victims via email, text messaging or online dating and social media websites in order to induce the victims into believing they were in a romantic relationship, friendship or business relationship with various false personas. The victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas. Thorpe admitted that his role in the conspiracy was to let victims transfer money to his bank account and that he knew the funds being deposited into his account were from unlawful activity. Thorpe further admitted that after the victims’ funds were deposited into his account, he kept some of the money for himself and forwarded some of the money to his co-conspirators via wire transfers or Zelle. Thorpe admitted that he obtained funds from at least six different fraud victims during the money laundering conspiracy.
Thorpe faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 22, 2021. As part of his plea agreement, Thorpe agreed to pay $69,850 in restitution.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), the West Virginia State Police, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson is handling the prosecution.
The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams at https://www.ic3.gov/.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-0068 (Emeni, et al).
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Logan County Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Logan County man was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Terrindez Xsidrick Bryant, 37, sold approximately 25.5 grams of methamphetamine to an individual at a residence in Verdunville on June 24, 2019.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the West Virginia State Police and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-00244.
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