Southern District of West Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing Drugs at FCI BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Quantel Saunders, 31, an inmate, pleaded guilty today to possession of contraband in a federal correctional institution.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Saunders was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley on October 13, 2024, when staff conducted a search of his person following a visitation. Staff found a quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, and cocaine on Saunders during the search.
Saunders is scheduled to be sentenced on December 11, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons 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. 5:25-cr-148.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Troy Alan Glover, 33, of Huntington, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 17, 2025, Glover sold 111 grams of methamphetamine and 9.7 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while in the informant’s vehicle in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Glover admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.
Glover further admitted that he sold approximately 111 grams of methamphetamine and 9.9 grams of fentanyl on March 14, 2025, and approximately 19.9 grams of fentanyl on March 26, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington in exchange for $940. Glover also admitted that he sold approximately 18.5 grams of fentanyl to the confidential informant on April 28, 2025, in Huntington in exchange for $900.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-139.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Enouch Jairus Kermue, 37, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Born in Liberia and not a United States citizen, Kermue is subject to a pending final removal order and will be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) administrative custody upon the conclusion of his criminal case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 20, 2024, Kermue sold approximately 212 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant while in a vehicle parked outside a Parkersburg, West Virginia, business. Investigators determined Kermue distributed large quantities of methamphetamine sourced directly from the Sinaloa Cartel to other dealers who redistributed it in the Parkersburg area and beyond.
Kermue has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for aggravated theft, robbery, assault, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbus, Ohio, Police Department.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-17.
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Mexican Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Braulio Villa-Chairez, also known as “Raul,” 32, a Mexican national living illegally in the United States, was sentenced today to 12 years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainer on Villa-Chairez and he will be subject to deportation proceedings upon the completion of his prison sentence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in March 2024 until in or around about October 2024, Villa-Chairez conspired with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Villa-Chairez admitted that he assisted the conspiracy by shipping methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere.
In July 2024, Villa-Chairez shipped two separate packages containing a total of 1.97 kilograms of methamphetamine “ice” from Houston, Texas, to a customer in West Virginia after receiving instructions from a co-conspirator. On or about July 18, 2024, Villa-Chairez picked up a package containing $4,800 sent by the customer, notified a co-conspirator that he had obtained the package, and re-shipped it to Washington state.
In August 2024, Villa-Chairez shipped a package containing approximately 963.8 grams of methamphetamine to Alabama. In October 2024, Villa-Chairez assisted a co-conspirator who was delivering approximately 5.905 kilograms of methamphetamine “ice” and approximately 4.402 kilograms of methamphetamine by vehicle to West Virginia by providing him with directions to a hotel and a casino in Kanawha County.
As part of his guilty plea, Villa-Chairez also admitted that he has lived illegally in the United States under the name “Jose Jesus Villa-Chairez” and has been convicted of two federal felony offenses under that name. Villa-Chairez has been previously deported from the United States three times and illegally re-entered the country a fourth time prior to his current offense.
Villa-Chairez and two other Mexican nationals living illegally in the United States were indicted by a federal grand jury as the result of a joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement into a conspiracy that was responsible for delivering large quantities of methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere from Houston. Co-defendant Silvester Barcenas, 24, was sentenced on February 11, 2026, to four years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. Lead defendant German Francisco Diaz, also known as “Trulio,” 41, remains a fugitive. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Israel Chaires-Villa, 24, a Mexican national, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. Chaires-Villa pleaded guilty in a separate indictment resulting from the joint investigation.
ICE has immigration detainers on Barcenas and Chaires-Villa, and each will be transferred to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings upon the completion of his prison sentence.
“This case is a stark example of what happens when our immigration laws are ignored,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “This defendant was deported three times, illegally returned to the United States, and then trafficked nearly 60 pounds of methamphetamine into our communities. Our country cannot tolerate a revolving door where individuals repeatedly violate our border, return illegally, and profit from poisoning Americans. If you come into this country illegally and deal deadly drugs, expect federal law enforcement to find you, prosecute you, and put you behind bars.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-176.
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Former West Virginia Sheriff’s Office Deputy Indicted for Alleged Deprivation of Rights of InmateRead the Press Release
A deputy with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office was charged yesterday in an indictment with one count of alleged deprivation of rights under color of law arising out of his alleged sexual assault of a female inmate in his custody.
According to the indictment, on July 29, 2025, Cass Aaron Close, 56, violated the civil rights of the victim when he sexually assaulted her. At the time of the assault, Close was on duty as a Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputy and the victim was in his custody at the Kanawha County Judicial Annex. If convicted of all the charges, Close faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Moore Capito for the Southern District of West Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office with assistance from the West Virginia State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Herrald for the Southern District of West Virginia and Trial Attorneys Cassandra Hughes and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Former National Park Service Employee Sentenced for Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Masters, 38, of Victor, was sentenced today to one year of federal probation and ordered to pay $150 in restitution for theft of government property.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or around October 2025 to in or around February 2026, Masters was employed by the National Park Service when he stole approximately $150 from a donation box at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in Lansing, Fayette County. As part of his guilty plea, Masters admitted that he used his position to access and remove money from the donation box without permission or authority on several occasions, and covered surveillance cameras to avoid detection.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service.
United States Magistrate Judge Dwane L. Tinsley imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Amy L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-60.
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Former Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted for Alleged Deprivation of Rights of InmateRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal grand jury indicted a former deputy with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office on one count of deprivation of rights under color of law arising out of his alleged sexual assault of a female inmate in his custody.
According to the indictment, on July 29, 2025, Cass Aaron Close, 56, violated the civil rights of the victim when he sexually assaulted her. At the time of the assault, Close was on duty as a Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputy and the victim was in his custody at the Kanawha County Judicial Annex. If convicted, Close faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Moore Capito for the Southern District of West Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office with assistance from the West Virginia State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald for the Southern District of West Virginia and Trial Attorneys Cassandra Hughes and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty 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. 2:26-cr-102.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Ex-Teacher and Former State Legislator on Child Sexual Exploitation, Enticement and Witness Tampering ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito announced today that a federal grand jury indicted David Elliott Pritt, 36, of Oak Hill, on three felony counts alleging sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement of a child, and tampering with a witness, victim, or informant.
The indictment alleges that from in or about March 2024 through in or about January 2026, Pritt attempted to and did persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and from in or about June 2025 through in or about January 2026 did so for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such sexually explicit conduct using the internet and cellular networks. The indictment further alleges that on or about June 20, 2026, Pritt attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade the minor female with the intent to hinder, delay, and prevent the communication of information relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal crime to a law enforcement officer.
Pritt was arrested on July 22, 2026, following an investigation. At the time of the alleged offenses, Pritt was employed as a teacher with Fayette County Schools and represented a Fayette County district in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Following his arrest, Pritt resigned from the West Virginia Legislature and the Fayette County Board of Education suspended and then terminated his employment. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“With West Virginia’s children returning to school this month, now is another opportunity for parents and caregivers to have those important conversations with their kids,” Capito said. “Our children need to know that they can safely report and talk about any situation that potentially involves grooming, inappropriate behavior, or abuse.”
Capito also continued to encourage anyone with information relevant to this case to contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at (304) 574-4268.
Capito commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Irene C. Berger and United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn.Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as 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. 2:26-cr-97.
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Kanawha County Woman Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay Restitution for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kelli Rucker, also known as “Kelli Engler,” 48, of Nitro, was sentenced today to nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $18,472.75 in restitution for wire fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rucker was hired by the West Virginia Division of Labor as an Administrative Services Manager I in 2020 and assigned three state purchasing credit cards. From 2022 through February 2023, Rucker fraudulently made unauthorized purchases with the three cards that resulted in losses totaling $18,472.75 to the State of West Virginia. As part of her guilty plea, Rucker admitted that she knew she was not permitted to make personal purchases with a state-issued card and that she electronically paid personal expenses including gas and electric bills, hospital expenses, and cable television bills as part of her fraudulent scheme. Rucker further admitted that her fraudulent use of the cards included a $2,200 charge transmitted electronically on January 28, 2023.
Rucker has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for access device fraud on October 13, 2010, and failure to appear on October 11, 2016, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
“Fraud — of any size and in any form — will be met with decisive action,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Every scam, from minor schemes to large scale operations, drains America’s taxpayers, stealing an estimated $233 billion to $521 billion from the federal government each year. That is unacceptable. Our office is fully committed to a coordinated, government-wide effort to combat fraud, and we will hold accountable anyone who steals from hardworking Americans. We urge every agency, partner, and citizen to stay vigilant, report suspicious activity, and join us in protecting taxpayer dollars.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations, and the assistance provided by the West Virginia Division of Labor.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-176.
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Former Law Enforcement Officer Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kenneth McCord, 56, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to production of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between on or about March 4, 2024, and on or about February 4, 2025, McCord communicated using his phone with a 15-year-old male resident of California via text messages, other online messaging, and video-calling platforms. As part of his guilty plea, McCord admitted that he knew the individual was a minor male, that he persuaded and enticed the 15-year-old to send him sexually explicit images and videos of himself, and that these sexually explicit materials included live video transmissions of the minor male masturbating and displaying his genitals.
McCord further admitted that between June 2024 and February 2025, he sent obscene materials including live video transmissions of himself masturbating and ejaculating to the minor male via the internet and cellular networks.
McCord is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. McCord must also register as a sex offender and owes restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court.
McCord is retired from the West Virginia State Police and was a senior investigator with the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations at the time of this offense.
“This case represents a staggering and unforgivable betrayal by someone entrusted to uphold the law and safeguard the community,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Few acts demonstrate such profound moral failure. This office remains relentless and uncompromising in its duty to protect our children and to ensure every predator is brought swiftly and decisively to justice.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as 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. 2:25-cr-52.
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Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – William Curtis Atwell, 52, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 23, 2026, Atwell possessed three Winchester .410-gauge shotgun shells in Charleston. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. As part of his guilty plea, Atwell admitted that he possessed the ammunition and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of his prior felony conviction for wanton endangerment in Kanawha County Circuit Court on July 10, 2017.
Atwell further admitted that he sold the ammunition to a confidential informant and during that transaction also sold a firearm assembled using a 10.75-inch metal pipe and improvised firing mechanism designed to expel the contents of inserted shotgun shells. Atwell admitted that he demonstrated how to fire the firearm behind a business on Charleston’s West Side. Atwell also admitted that he sold the confidential informant a pipe bomb assembled from galvanized pipe, an elbow joint, end caps, and a wick. The pipe bomb was filled with explosive powder and could create a blast, expelling the contents of the pipe.
Atwell is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-27.
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Two Charleston Women Plead Guilty to Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Tanisha Constance Brown, 36, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and Tiffany Sloan-Combs, 40, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Brown and Sloan-Combs admitted to their roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in the Charleston area. Sloan-Combs also pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in a separate case.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Brown and Sloan-Combs each admitted that they participated in the conspiracy’s distribution of fentanyl between September 2025 and April 2026. Brown lived with a co-conspirator who obtained the fentanyl and worked with her to sell it. Brown and the co-conspirator generally prepared the fentanyl at their Charleston residence, keeping some of the fentanyl there and the rest at a stash location in South Charleston. Sloan-Combs sometimes mixed the fentanyl with non-controlled substance cutting agents at Brown’s request before its distribution to customers and prepared bags containing certain quantities of fentanyl for Brown to distribute to customers. Brown distributed quantities of fentanyl to others in the Charleston area with the understanding that several of her customers redistributed the fentanyl to third-party customers. Sloan-Combs re-distributed some of the fentanyl she acquired as part of the conspiracy to third parties while also using some of it.
As part of her guilty plea, Brown further admitted that she participated in the conspiracy’s distribution of crack between March 2026 and April 2026. Brown facilitated transactions between a male co-conspirator who supplied the crack and a female co-conspirator who typically used it. These transactions typically took place at or near the male co-conspirator’s Charleston residence.
In the separate case, Sloan-Combs admitted that she sold approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,300 on May 23, 2023, inside a convenience store restroom in Charleston.
Brown and Sloan-Combs are scheduled to be sentenced on December 9, 2026. Brown faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sloan-Combs faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 60 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $6 million.
Brown and Sloan-Combs are among eight individuals indicted following a federal investigation of fentanyl trafficking in the Charleston area. On July 22, 2026, lead defendant Antonio Andre Smith, also known as “Bro,” 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and co-conspirator Jerry Lucilo Grass, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Smith and Grass, both of Charleston, are scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2026. Two other defendants pleaded guilty to charges separate from the main indictment, which remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy B. Wolfe and Amy L. McLaughlin are prosecuting the cases.
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. 2:26-cr-51 (Smith et al.) and 2:26-cr-25 (Sloan-Combs).
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Fayette County Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – William Joseph Kessler III, 45, of Beckwith, was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 25, 2024, Kessler sold a total of 18 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant over the course of two transactions, one in Raleigh County and the other at Kessler’s residence in Beckwith. On June 26, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Kessler’s residence and seized approximately 36 grams of fentanyl, 263.4 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and ketamine, 45.7 grams of methamphetamine, a CZ Model P-10s 9mm pistol, and $4,603. The seized currency included $505 of prerecorded money exchanged during the controlled buys.
Kessler has a criminal history that dates back to 2004 and includes two prior felony convictions for drug trafficking.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-146.
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Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Carlos Alvin Myles, also known as “Choppa,” 38, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 12, 2024, Myles sold approximately 3.42 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a residence on Charleston’s West Side. As part of his guilty plea, Myles admitted to conducting the transaction. Myles further admitted that the transaction was part of a conspiracy to distribute drugs in and around the Southern District of West Virginia, and that he participated in the conspiracy between February and May 2024.
Myles is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Myles is among five defendants indicted by a federal grand jury following a federal investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. Two co-defendants previously pleaded guilty. The indictment remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon have prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-18.
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West Virginia Convicted Felony Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Receipt of over 50 Gigabytes of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Justin L. Wiegand, 34, of Kenova, West Virginia, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography.
“Sexual exploitation of children is one of the worst and most damaging crimes in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Those who participate in these crimes damage lives, rob innocence, and create emotional wounds that last a lifetime. Whether you produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM), distribute it, or access it via subscriptions to messaging apps, we will find and prosecute you subject to mandatory minimum penalties, as in the case of this repeat offender.”
“This predator admitted to continuing his horrific crimes against children even while serving a sentence for statutory rape,” said U.S. Attorney Moore Capito for the Southern District of West Virginia. “Our office remains steadfast and unrelenting, working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our children and communities from such heinous and abhorrent offenses.”
“This case demonstrates how DSS leverages its global footprint to protect vulnerable victims and works with law enforcement partners on complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations,” said Deputy Assistant Director William Ferrari of the Office of Investigations for the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “Every day, DSS works alongside U.S. and international partners to investigate cases like this, protect victims, and safeguard U.S. interests at home and abroad.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2023, Wiegand contacted a user on an instant messaging app who provided Wiegand with options for purchasing videos and links to files depicting CSAM. The options included “Cp,” “Kids,” and “Young Girls.” As part of his guilty plea, Wiegand admitted that he ordered a package from the Young Girls and Kids options that included approximately 160 videos and links to four folders on an online file hosting service containing over 50 gigabytes of CSAM. Wiegand further admitted that the videos sent to him depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including adult males having sexual intercourse with prepubescent females. Wiegand paid the messaging app user $25 for the package via an online payments system. At the user’s direction, Wiegand messaged a different messaging app account that provided Wiegand with the videos and online links he purchased.
Wiegand purchased CSAM from the same and other messaging app users on at least eight other occasions between December 2023 and January 2025. Wiegand requested such content as “young girls cp” and asked if the user had rape videos during these transactions. Wiegand also set up a hidden camera in a bathroom at his residence and recorded a video of an approximately 10-year-old girl undressing until she was nude and taking a shower. The video was saved on one of Wiegand’s cell phones no later than July 29, 2025. Wiegand possessed numerous images and videos of CSAM on his cell phones, including depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual intercourse and oral sex with adults. Wiegand saved some of these images and videos using a private cloud storage service, including at least two images depicting an approximately 14-year-old girl displaying her nude genital area.
Wiegand was previously convicted of two counts of third-degree sexual assault in Wayne County Circuit Court on May 5, 2023. As part of today’s guilty plea, Wiegand admitted that his victim in that case is the approximately 14-year-old girl depicted in the CSAM on the private cloud storage service. Wiegard also admitted that he was serving a term of home confinement for those convictions at the time of his current offense.
Wiegand is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 23 and faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
DSS investigated the case with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police.
Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald for the Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Wayne County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Justin L. Wiegand, 34, of Kenova, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2023, Wiegand contacted a user on an instant messaging app who provided Wiegand with options for purchasing videos and links to files depicting child pornography. The options included “Cp,” “Kids,” and “Young Girls.” As part of his guilty plea, Wiegand admitted that he ordered a package from the Young Girls and Kids options that included approximately 160 videos and links to four folders on an online file hosting service containing over 50 gigabytes of child pornography. Wiegand further admitted that the videos sent to him depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including adult males having sexual intercourse with prepubescent females. Wiegand paid the messaging app user $25 for the package via an online payments system. At the user’s direction, Wiegand messaged a different messaging app account that provided Wiegand with the videos and online links he purchased.
Wiegand also admitted to additional criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. Wiegand purchased child pornography from the same and other messaging app users on at least eight other occasions between December 2023 and January 2025. Wiegand requested such content as “young girls cp” and asked if the user had rape videos during these transactions. Wiegand also set up a hidden camera in a bathroom at his residence and recorded a video of an approximately 10-year-old girl undressing until she was nude and taking a shower. The video was saved on one of Wiegand’s cell phones no later than July 29, 2025. Wiegand possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography on his cell phones, including depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual intercourse and oral sex with adults. Wiegand saved some of these images and videos using a private cloud storage service, including at least two images depicting an approximately 14-year-old girl displaying her nude genital area.
Wiegand was previously convicted of two counts of third-degree sexual assault in Wayne County Circuit Court on May 5, 2023. As part of today’s guilty plea, Wiegand admitted that his victim in that case is the approximately 14-year-old girl depicted in the child pornography on the private cloud storage service. Wiegard also admitted that he was serving a term of home confinement for those convictions at the time of his current offense.
Wiegand is scheduled to be sentenced on November 23, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 17 years and up to 40 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) investigated the case with assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police.
“Sexual exploitation of children is one of the worst and most damaging crimes in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Those who participate in these crimes damage lives, rob innocence, and create emotional wounds that last a lifetime. Whether you produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM), distribute it, or access it via subscriptions to messaging apps, we will find and prosecute you subject to mandatory minimum penalties, as in the case of this repeat offender.”
“This predator admitted to continuing his horrific crimes against children even while serving a sentence for statutory rape,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Our office remains steadfast and unrelenting, working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our children and communities from such heinous and abhorrent offenses.”
“This case demonstrates how DSS leverages its global footprint to protect vulnerable victims and work with law enforcement partners on complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations,” said William Ferrari, Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Investigations for the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “Every day, DSS works alongside U.S. and international partners to investigate cases like this, protect victims, and safeguard U.S. interests at home and abroad.”
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald and Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-197.
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Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Delaquan Antonio Myers, also known as “Chase,” 37, of Dayton, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 7, 2022, Myers agreed to deliver approximately 400 grams of fentanyl to an individual in the Beaver area of Raleigh County, West Virginia. Rather than deliver the fentanyl himself, Myers asked the buyer to send someone to meet him in Dayton, Ohio. Two undercover law enforcement officers obtained the fentanyl from Myers.
Myers is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell have prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-29.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Joe Sidney Cross, 44, of Huntington, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. Cross admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 13, 2025, Cross sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $220 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Cross admitted that he arranged the transaction beforehand and conducted the drug deal in the confidential informant’s vehicle.
Cross also admitted to conspiring with another individual to conduct additional transactions on March 20 and March 24, 2025. During each transaction, Cross sold a firearm and co-conspirator Erin Leigh Keeney sold approximately 1 gram of carfentanil to a confidential informant. Cross further admitted to selling 8.45 grams of fentanyl on May 22, 2025, and approximately 11.44 grams of fentanyl on June 12, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington.
On September 11, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence while Cross was present and seized approximately 12.35 grams of suspected cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Cross admitted that he intended to sell the seized crack.
Cross and Keeney are among seven individuals indicted following a federal investigation of drug trafficking in the Huntington area. All seven defendants pleaded guilty. Keeney, 42, of Huntington, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of carfentanil.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-161.
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Global Veterinary Drug Distributor Agrees to $100,000 SettlementRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito announced today that MWI Veterinary Supply Inc. (MWI) has agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve allegations it failed to identify large oxycodone HCL orders from a Putnam County, West Virginia, veterinarian as suspicious or flag them to authorities, resulting in abuse and probable diversion of these drugs.
MWI, also known as MWI Animal Health, is a global distributor of supplies and pharmaceuticals for the veterinary industry based in Boise, Idaho. As a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registrant authorized to distribute controlled substances, MWI is required under the Controlled Substances Act to design and operate a system to identify suspicious orders of controlled substances and to notify the DEA upon discovering such suspicious orders.
Federal investigators found that MWI’s internal Diversion Control Program policies required a suspicious order to be investigated by MWI’s Diversion Control Team, including documentation for the reason the order was flagged. The internal policy identified oxycodone HCL as a substance “especially susceptible to diversion” that required additional scrutiny. MWI’s internal policy noted that its Suspicious Order Monitoring System “will fail if individuals clear orders without adequate investigation.”
The federal investigation found that between March 8, 2018, and July 10, 2023, MWI filled orders totaling 14,200 dosage units of hydrocodone/acetaminophen at 10 milligrams each, 800 dosage units of oxycodone HCL at 10 milligrams each, and 600 dosage units of oxycodone HCL at 5 milligrams each for Dr. Clara Ann Mason, the Putnam County veterinarian.
These orders were determined to be unusual for a veterinary practice, and amount to more than 16 times the national average for medical practitioners. For the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, Mason ordered substantially more hydrocodone/acetaminophen from MWI than any other individual customer. Mason accounted for all oxycodone HCL dosage units filled by MWI for West Virginia veterinarians in 2022 and 2023.
On September 13, 2022, MWI’s Suspicious Order Monitoring System flagged Mason’s order that day for 300 dosage units of oxycodone HCL at 10 milligrams each. Federal investigators determined than an MWI representative opened the suspicious order for review and released it the next day without substantial investigation. MWI filled nine subsequent orders for oxycodone HCL from Mason, including one for approximately 1,300 pills, without questioning Mason or doing further due diligence.
“The authority to distribute controlled substance requires complete adherence to the law and mandated internal policies to protect our communities against the consequences of diversion and abuse,” Capito said. “This settlement agreement is the result of outstanding work by the Drug Enforcement Administration, our office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement and Health Care Fraud Investigative Specialist Tyler E. Japhet, and Assistant United States Attorney Gregory P. Neil.”
“DEA registrants like MWI are obligated to uphold the stringent reporting requirements outlined in the Controlled Substances Act; a failure to do so can result in the diversion of medications that have a high potential for abuse, and endanger our communities,” said Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Louisville Division, which serves Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. “Hopefully, today’s settlement will serve as a costly reminder that compels MWI to take the threat of drug diversion seriously.”
Capito’s office secured a $956,709 default judgment against Mason on July 31, 2025. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers ordered Mason to pay the maximum civil penalties, concluding that she ordered thousands of doses of opioids and other drugs, failed to keep these drugs secured, failed to keep track of these drugs, and apparently fabricated records to cover her failures.
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. 3:35-cv-175 (Mason).
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Statement from United States Attorney Moore Capito on the Passing of Former U.S. Attorney Chuck MillerRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito issued the following statement today regarding the passing of former U.S. Attorney Chuck Miller:
“Chuck Miller dedicated his life to public service and left a lasting mark on both this office and the people of Kanawha County. We are grateful for his service and the example he set for those who followed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
- United States Attorney Moore Capito
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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Cabell County Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Johnathan Matthew Taylor, 31, of Barboursville, pleaded guilty today to failure to update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about January 17, 2026, through on or about February 17, 2026, Taylor failed to update his registration after changing his employment.
Taylor is required to register as a sex offender following his conviction for traveling in interstate commerce in order to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on August 8, 2019. Taylor was serving a term of supervised release for that conviction at the time of his current offense.
Law enforcement officers arrested Taylor on April 2, 2026, following his indictment on his current offense as part of Operation Spring Sweep, a nearly month-long warrant and fugitive sweep led by the U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force that targeted noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, and violent fugitives.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-34.
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United States Attorney Moore Capito Encourages Turn Out for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, 2026Read the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito is encouraging residents throughout the Southern District of West Virginia to join his office, law enforcement, and other community partners for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will participate in National Night Out events at Orchard Manor in Charleston and Ritter Park in Huntington from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“National Night Out is a reminder that safer communities are built when neighbors look out for one another,” Capito said. “I encourage West Virginians to join us on August 4 to connect, learn, and stand together in support of our law enforcement and shared safety. Our office will be present in Charleston and Huntington, and we look forward to engaging with families across the Southern District.”
Additional National Night Out events are scheduled in the Southern District of West Virginia, including Dunbar, Marmet, and Parkersburg.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
For more information, visit https://natw.org/.
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.
A video statement from United States Attorney Moore Capito is located on the office’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xat4PJIV92I.
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Wood County Man Pleads Guilty to $510,465.19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jeffrey Jeffers, 35, of Williamstown, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud. Jeffers admitted to stealing $510,465.19 from his employer through false charges to company-issued credit cards.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2022 and July 2024, Jeffers delivered products by truck for a large provider of industrial gas from its distribution facility in Wood County. The delivery trucks were fueled at the distribution facility and were also equipped with fuel credit cards. As part of his guilty plea, Jeffers admitted that he fraudulently charged a total of $510,465.19 in fuel costs to the credit cards throughout his term of employment. Jeffers further admitted that the fraudulent credit card payments went to accounts for fictitious service stations he created on online payment processing platforms. Jeffers admitted that his delivery routes normally never required any refueling outside of the distribution facility.
Jeffers is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Jeffers also owes $510,465.19 in restitution.
“This defendant exploited the trust placed in him by his employer and turned a company resource into a personal revenue stream,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen through deception is a dollar taken from a business, its employees, and ultimately the community it serves. This case demonstrates that complex fraud schemes carried out behind computer screens and online payment platforms are no less serious than any other form of theft. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who believe they can enrich themselves through dishonesty and abuse of trust.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-85.
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Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification ActRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Cory Alan Kinsel, also known as “Cory Alan Hatcher,” 38, pleaded guilty today to failing to register and update his registration as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) after relocating from West Virginia to Ohio and obtaining employment in Kentucky.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 2, 2025, a law enforcement officer conducting a compliance check on Kinsel determined that Kinsel had left his registered address, a Charleston men’s shelter, without updating his registration. The resulting investigation revealed that Kinsel was living in South Point, Ohio, and working at a restaurant in Ashland, Kentucky, where he was arrested on October 8, 2025.
Kinsel knew he was required to register as a sex offender and maintain that registration as a result of his conviction for third-degree sexual assault of as 13-year-old girl in Hancock County Circuit Court in 2007.
Kinsel is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-179.
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Two Charleston Men Plead Guilty to Roles in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two Charleston men pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, admitting to roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in the Charleston area.
Antonio Andre Smith, also known as “Bro,” 50, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and Jerry Lucilo Grass, 41, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith and Grass each took part in the conspiracy between September 2025 and April 2026. Smith admitted that he distributed fentanyl generally in the Charleston area and worked with another co-conspirator to distribute fentanyl to customers. Grass admitted that he generally acquired fentanyl from a co-conspirator and re-distributed at least some of it to third parties in the Charleston area while also using some of it.
As part of his guilty plea, Grass also admitted that he contacted the co-conspirator on March 8, 2026, to request an ounce of fentanyl for a customer and an additional quantity for his personal use. Grass further admitted that he also contacted a co-conspirator on March 16, 2026, to inform her that he planned to provide all the fentanyl in his possession to a customer and needed an additional ounce from her for that transaction. Grass also admitted that another co-conspirator contacted him about that transaction to confirm that the customer needed the additional ounce.
Smith and Grass are scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2026. Smith faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. Grass faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Smith and Grass are among eight individuals indicted following a federal investigation of fentanyl trafficking in the Charleston area. Two of those defendants pleaded guilty to charges separate from the main indictment, which remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-51.
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Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jeremy Dale Shuck, 47, of Coal City, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 16, 2024, Shuck sold approximately 13.92 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $200 in a service station parking lot in Beaver. Shuck admitted to the transaction as part of his guilty plea.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-41.
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Parkersburg Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kevin Wayne Gardner, 42, of Parkersburg, was sentenced on Monday, July 27, 2026, to 14 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 16, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Gardner in the Parkersburg area of Wood County. Officers seized approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine during a search of the vehicle.
Gardner has a criminal history that includes 10 prior felony convictions and multiple revocations of probation and parole.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the Wood County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-190.
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Fayette County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Braden Robertson, 31, of Oak Hill, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 6, 2024, Robertson possessed a Ruger model Wrangler .22-caliber revolver, a Colt model Buntline Scout .22-caliber revolver, a Ruger model Blackhawk .45-caliber revolver, a Sar Arms model SARB6P Hawk 9mm pistol, and an Excam model GT27 .25-caliber pistol.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Robertson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for conspiracy to commit a felony and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance on July 30, 2018, in Fayette County Circuit Court.
Four of the firearms possessed by Robertson were stolen from a Fayette County pawn shop. On July 4, 2024, Jawuan Akil Watts and other individuals broke into the pawn shop on three occasions while the business was closed and stole 33 firearms, ammunition, coins, and a gaming console. Watts traded, sold, or gave many of the firearms to others in the Oak Hill community including individuals with felony convictions. On July 6, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Lesley Scott Watkins and found three firearms during the search, including two that were stolen from the pawn shop. Sixteen of the stolen firearms have not been recovered.
On December 4, 2025, Watts, 32, of Oak Hill, was sentenced to eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and Watkins, 51, of Oak Hill, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, each for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oak Hill Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph prosecuted the case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-23.
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Convicted Double-Murderer Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Casey Rygh, 47, of Rochester, Minnesota, pleaded guilty on Monday, July 27, 2026, to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2025, law enforcement officers were searching for Rygh to serve felony arrest warrants when they located and captured him in the Matoaka area of Mercer County, West Virginia. Officers found he possessed a loaded SCCY Model CPX-2 9mm pistol.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Rygh knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for two counts of felony murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in Logan County, West Virginia, Circuit Court on December 15, 1997.
Rygh is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Rygh was captured during Operation Rolling Waters, a 2025 warrant and fugitive sweep led by the U.S. Marshals Services Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force of Southern West Virginia.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-40.
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Charleston Man Sentenced for Straw Purchase CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Isaiah Levi Creasey, 23, of Charleston, was sentenced today to two years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, for making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 25, 2025, Creasey purchased a Glock model 19X 9mm pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in South Charleston. As part of his guilty plea, Creasey admitted that he purchased the firearm for a juvenile and falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that he was the purchaser of the firearm when he knew he was buying it for the juvenile. Creasey further admitted that he intended to deceive the firearms dealer into believing he was the actual buyer of the pistol, and that following the purchase he gave the pistol to the juvenile who was waiting in his vehicle outside of the business.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-9.
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United States Attorney Moore Capito to Hold Press Conference Following David Elliott Pritt HearingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito will hold a press conference today, Monday, July 27, 2026, with law enforcement partners following the 3:30 p.m.hearing in USA vs. David Elliott Pritt.
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Monday, July 27, 2026, following 3:30 p.m. preliminary-detention hearing
WHERE: Fifth Floor, Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston
*** Cameras and other recording devices are not allowed in the courtroom per U.S. District Court policy. Media will be escorted to and from the fifth floor. Media are asked to set up in the press conference area in advance of 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.
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Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Boyd Clark, 42, of Beckley, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 31, 2025, Clark sold approximately 1 gram of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Beckley hotel where Clark was staying. As part of his guilty plea, Clark admitted to conducting the transaction and further admitted to selling 1-gram quantities of fentanyl on November 5, 2025, and February 24, 2026, also in Beckley to the same confidential informant. The investigation also revealed that Clark was on federal supervised release at the time the controlled drug buys were made, as result of a previous conviction in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2026 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess 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. 5:26-cr-37.
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Additional West Virginia Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Against Inmates’ RightsRead the Press Release
A former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for his role in a conspiracy in which he and other correctional officers used unreasonable force against inmates, including pretrial detainees, as a form of punishment and retaliation. Nathaniel Pack, 29, of Jumping Branch, pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241.
According to his plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Pack admitted that, beginning in about April 2020, and continuing through on or about March 1, 2022, he and other officers conspired to use unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates they believed or perceived to have engaged in misconduct. As part of this conspiracy, Pack and his co-conspirators would bring the inmates to “blind spots” in the jail – areas that were not captured on surveillance cameras – so that they could assault the inmates without being recorded and thus avoid being held accountable for their actions.
Pack admitted that, during the conspiracy, he and others used unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates in “blind spots” on at least seven different occasions. Among those occasions, in November 2020, he and other co-conspirators responded to an incident in which pretrial detainee J.D.H. had been kicking his cell door. After an initial use of force incident in the cell, the defendant and others handcuffed J.D.H. and brought him to an interview room that was a known “blind spot,” where the defendant and others struck and punched J.D.H. about his body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing him to suffer bodily injury. In a July 2021 incident, the defendant and co-conspirators handcuffed pretrial detainee D.W.M., who had not been following officers’ verbal commands. The defendant and others brought D.W.M. to a “blind spot” interview room, where they struck him about the face and body while D.W.M. was handcuffed and not a threat, to unlawfully punish him for not following officers’ commands.
As a result of these actions, D.W.M. suffered lacerations and bleeding about his head. In January 2022, the defendant brought pretrial detainee H.B. to the “blind spot” interview room, where the defendant struck H.B. in the face to punish H.B. for calling another officer a slur. The defendant and a co-conspirator then brought H.B. to a cell that he knew to be another “blind spot,” where the defendant punched H.B. repeatedly about the face and body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing H.B. to suffer injuries to his face. In addition, Pack admitted that on or about March 1, 2022, he responded to a call for officer assistance after pretrial detainee Q.B. attempted to push past an officer and leave his assigned pod. The defendant and co-conspirators restrained Q.B., handcuffed him, and escorted Q.B. to the “blind spot” interview room. While the co-conspirators brought Q.B. into the interview room, the defendant went into the medical unit, where he told staff to wait a few minutes before going to the interview room to evaluate Q.B. The defendant told the staff to wait because the defendant wanted to give the co-conspirators time to use unreasonable force against Q.B. inside the interview room.
In addition, Pack admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators prepared false reports in which they denied using unreasonable force and failed to document injuries that inmates sustained during use of force incidents, so that the conspirators would not be investigated or held accountable for their actions.
Pack pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. He will be sentenced on Dec. 4. According to his plea agreement, Pack faces a maximum Penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-79.
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Additional West Virginia Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Against Inmates’ RightsRead the Press Release
A former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, pleaded guilty for his role in a conspiracy in which he and other correctional officers used unreasonable force against inmates, including pretrial detainees, as a form of punishment and retaliation. Nathaniel Pack, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241.
According to his plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Pack admitted that, beginning in about April 2020, and continuing through on or about March 1, 2022, he and other officers conspired to use unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates they believed or perceived to have engaged in misconduct. As part of this conspiracy, Pack and his co-conspirators would bring the inmates to “blind spots” in the jail – areas that were not captured on surveillance cameras – so that they could assault the inmates without being recorded and thus avoid being held accountable for their actions.
Pack admitted that, during the conspiracy, he and others used unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates in “blind spots” on at least seven different occasions. Among those occasions, in November 2020, he and other co-conspirators responded to an incident in which pretrial detainee J.D.H. had been kicking his cell door. After an initial use of force incident in the cell, the defendant and others handcuffed J.D.H. and brought him to an interview room that was a known “blind spot,” where the defendant and others struck and punched J.D.H. about his body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing him to suffer bodily injury. In a July 2021 incident, the defendant and co-conspirators handcuffed pretrial detainee D.W.M., who had not been following officers’ verbal commands. The defendant and others brought D.W.M. to a “blind spot” interview room, where they struck him about the face and body while D.W.M. was handcuffed and not a threat, to unlawfully punish him for not following officers’ commands.
As a result of these actions, D.W.M. suffered lacerations and bleeding about his head. In January 2022, the defendant brought pretrial detainee H.B. to the “blind spot” interview room, where the defendant struck H.B. in the face to punish H.B. for calling another officer a slur. The defendant and a co-conspirator then brought H.B. to a cell that he knew to be another “blind spot,” where the defendant punched H.B. repeatedly about the face and body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing H.B. to suffer injuries to his face. In addition, Pack admitted that on or about March 1, 2022, he responded to a call for officer assistance after pretrial detainee Q.B. attempted to push past an officer and leave his assigned pod. The defendant and co-conspirators restrained Q.B., handcuffed him, and escorted Q.B. to the “blind spot” interview room. While the co-conspirators brought Q.B. into the interview room, the defendant went into the medical unit, where he told staff to wait a few minutes before going to the interview room to evaluate Q.B. The defendant told the staff to wait because the defendant wanted to give the co-conspirators time to use unreasonable force against Q.B. inside the interview room.
In addition, Pack admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators prepared false reports in which they denied using unreasonable force and failed to document injuries that inmates sustained during use of force incidents, so that the conspirators would not be investigated or held accountable for their actions.
Pack pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. He will be sentenced on Dec. 4. According to his plea agreement, Pack faces a maximum Penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
South Charleston Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Kanawha County Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Andre Marvin Marneal Jenkins, also known as “Meech,” 28, of South Charleston, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jenkins admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jenkins arranged to distribute fentanyl pills to a co-conspirator who intended to redistribute those pills to a customer. On April 10, 2025, law enforcement officers encountered Jenkins when they executed a search warrant at a Charleston apartment and seized a quantity of fentanyl and a loaded Glock 17 9mm pistol from Jenkins. He also possessed a key to a storage unit in Dunbar. Officers executed a search warrant on that storage unit and recovered over 5,300 pills containing fentanyl and other substances, along with three additional firearms.
Jenkins is among nine defendants who pleaded guilty following their indictment on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the same federal investigation.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-78.
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Putnam County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Steven Mark Hosey, 59, of Poca, was sentenced to three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully engaging in the business of dealing in firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least April 2024 through April 10, 2025, Hosey sold firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL) in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Hosey admitted that he knew he needed an FFL based on the quantity and regularity with which he was buying and selling firearms. Hosey further admitted that he purchased firearms from FFL licensees with the intent to sell the firearms to other individuals, received requests from individuals for specific firearms that he would purchase to sell to those individuals, purchased firearms without a specific buyer in mind, and advertised the sale of firearms on various social media platforms.
Hosey also admitted that he sold between 40 and 50 firearms for profit during the time period. These firearms included a Glock model 43X 9mm pistol and a Shadow Systems model MR920 9mm pistol on January 25, 2025, a Glock model 40 10mm pistol and a Colt model Anaconda .44 Magnum revolver on February 6, 2025, a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson model 629 .44 Magnum revolver on February 28, 2025, a Glock model 45 9mm pistol and a FN model FNX-45 Tactical .45-caliber pistol on March 17, 2025, and a Kimber model Tactical Pro II 9mm pistol and a Springfield Armory model Hellcat 9mm pistol on April 8, 2025. Hosey admitted that he conducted the five transactions in the parking lot of an FFL business and sold the firearms to a confidential informant.
On April 10, 2025, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Hosey’s residence and seized 34 firearms. Hosey admitted that he intended to sell some of the seized firearms for profit.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-36.
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Kanawha County Man Found Guilty of Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After a one-day trial, a federal jury convicted Christian Garrett Thornton, 40, of Cross Lanes, on Monday, July 20, 2026, of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence at trial showed that on October 29, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Thornton’s Cross Lanes residence. Officers found 662 grams of fentanyl and 162 grams of methamphetamine, having a street value of approximately $50,000, a Taurus model PT709 Slim 9mm pistol, a Taurus model Judge Public Defender Poly .45/,410 revolver, and a Colt model Peacemaker .22-caliber revolver in Thornton’s bedroom.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Thornton knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions on four counts of distribution of a quantity of oxymorphone and one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of oxymorphone in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on March 29, 2017.
Thornton is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, and faces a minimum of ten years and a maximum penalty of life in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; up to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm; and a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hurricane Police Department conducted the investigation.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the jury trial. Assistant United States Attorneys D. Keith Randolph and Joshua Hanks are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-38.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marcus Allen Johnson, also known as “Mook,” 42, of Huntington, was sentenced on July 20, 2026, to seven years and eight months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson sold approximately 53.76 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl on January 14, 2025, and approximately 56.68 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl on January 28, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington. As part of his guilty pleas, Johnson admitted that he conducted each transaction and arranged them beforehand. Johnson’s sentence was enhanced based on his role in having threats made to a government witness during the prosecution.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the cases.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:25-cr-96 and 3:25-cr-187.
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Nicholas County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Wayne Vickers, 35, of Summersville, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 13, 2024, a law enforcement officer responded to a reported ATV crash in Nicholas County and encountered emergency responders treating Vickers, the ATV’s operator who was injured in the crash. While Vickers was being treated, a SCCY Industries model CPX-2 9mm pistol fell from his person onto the gurney. As part of his guilty plea, Vickers admitted that he possessed the firearm.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Vickers knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for burglary and grand larceny on February 10, 2021, and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering on March 12, 2015, both in Nicholas County Circuit Court.
Vickers has a criminal history that includes two additional prior felony convictions
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the assistance provided by the Nicholas County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-185.
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Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Samuel Jermaine Caples, also known as “EJ,” 25, of Pontiac, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 9, 2026, Caples sold approximately 216.7 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a Huntington residence in exchange for $1,600. As part of his guilty plea, Caples admitted that he conducted the transaction after the confidential informant arranged it with another individual.
Caples further admitted that he sold a mixture containing approximately 30.18 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $450 on December 2, 2025, and sold approximately 7.11 grams of fentanyl in exchange for $800 on January 14, 2026. Each transaction took place in Huntington.
Caples is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams and third-year law student intern Chloe A. Bailey are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-43.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Dylan James Pettyjohn, 21, of Huntington, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for selling a firearm to a convicted felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Pettyjohn sold a Calwest model J-22 .22-calier pistol to a confidential informant for $150. As part of his guilty plea, Pettyjohn admitted that he conducted the transaction after arranging it beforehand, that the confidential informant told him he was a convicted felon during the transaction, and that the transaction occurred at the Huntington residence of Erin Leigh Keeney.
Pettyjohn further admitted that he sold a Glock model 34 9mm pistol for $600 on May 13, 2025, and a Just Right Carbines model JR Carbine 9mm rifle for $650 on May 22, 2025, to the same confidential informant in Huntington.
Pettyjohn and Keeney are among seven individuals indicted following a federal investigation of drug trafficking in the Huntington area. All seven defendants pleaded guilty. Keeney, 42, of Huntington, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of carfentanil.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-158.
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Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime and Supervised Release ViolationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Daniel Legette, also known as “Bam,” 50, of Huntington, was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and violating supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 21, 2025, Legette sold approximately 0.65 grams of fentanyl and 0.42 grams of crack to a confidential informant in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Legette admitted that he conducted the transaction and arranged it beforehand.
At the time of this offense, Legette was serving a term of supervised release following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of crack in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on March 22, 2021. Today’s sentence includes two years in prison for committing a crime while on supervised release.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-186.
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Charleston Man and Woman Plead Guilty to Roles in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Kelvin Rydele Myles, also known as “D,” 49, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and Kristina Renea Clark, 37, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl. Myles and Clark admitted to their roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” within the Southern District of West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 14, 2024, Myles sold approximately 2.9 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while under a train trestle on Charleston’s West Side. As part of his guilty plea, Myles admitted that he conducted the transaction. Myles further admitted that he conducted multiple additional drug transactions. Myles sold approximately 3.28 grams of fentanyl on March 19, 2024, approximately 3.43 grams of fentanyl on March 22, 2024, and approximately 3.7 grams of fentanyl and 1.2 grams of cocaine on December 8, 2025. Each transaction occurred on Charleston’s West Side. Myles also sold approximately 5.1 grams of fentanyl on December 11, 2025, in South Charleston. All four transactions were with a confidential informant.
On May 3, 2024, Clark sold approximately 3.49 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in the driveway of a residence on Charleston’s West Side. As part of her guilty plea, Clark admitted that she conducted the transaction after a co-conspirator arranged it beforehand. Clark also admitted to additional drug transactions. Clark sold approximately 3.45 grams of fentanyl on April 16, 2024, and approximately 3.48 grams of fentanyl on July 10, 2024. Both transactions occurred on Charleston’s West Side. Each was with a confidential informant and was arranged beforehand by a co-conspirator. On September 17, 2024, Clark worked with two co-conspirators to sell approximately 3.51 grams of fentanyl and 2.81 grams of crack to a confidential informant at a residence on Charleston’s West Side. Clark brought the crack and some of the fentanyl from her residence to complete the transaction after one of her co-conspirators did not have enough of the drugs the confidential informant wanted to purchase.
On October 7, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Clark’s residence on Charleston’s West Side and seized 3.62 kilograms of fentanyl, 562 grams of cocaine, and six firearms from Clark’s bedroom. As part of her guilty plea, Clark admitted that she possessed the seized drugs and intended to distribute them and possessed the seized firearms in connection with her drug distribution intentions.
On December 16, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in Hurricane of a vehicle driven by Myles in which Clark was a passenger. Officers searched the vehicle during the traffic stop and seized two vacuum-sealed bags in the vehicle’s trunk that weighed approximately 760 grams and contained fentanyl. As part of their guilty pleas, Myles and Clark each admitted that they knew the fentanyl was in the trunk and that they intended to distribute it within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Myles and Clark are scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2026. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Myles and Clark each admitted to participating in the drug conspiracy between February and October 2024. They are among five defendants indicted by a federal grand jury following an investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. The indictment remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon have prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-18.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeffrey Allen Jones, also known as “Ben,” 46, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 7, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ Huntington residence and seized approximately 44 grams of fentanyl, approximately 23 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and a loaded Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol. As part of his guilty plea, Jones admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them, and that he possessed the firearm to protect himself and the seized drugs.
Jones also admitted to selling fentanyl on four occasions between January 2, 2025, and March 5, 2025, in quantities of approximately 1 gram each time to a confidential informant at the Huntington residence and in exchange for $80.
On December 17, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington motel room, where they arrested Jones and seized approximately 15 grams of crack and 5 grams of fentanyl in his possession.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-153.
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Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert J. Thomas, 31, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 27, 2024, Thomas possessed a Glock Model 27 .40-caliber pistol in the Jefferson area of Kanawha County.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Thomas knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 9, 2019.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price and third-year law student intern Jeffrey R. Watkins prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-40.
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Huntington Man Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tavoyn Billy Morrison, 26, of Huntington, was sentenced today to time served and three years of supervised release for distribution of cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 31, 2025, Morrison sold approximately 3 grams of crack to a confidential informant for $200 at a Huntington residence. As part of his guilty plea, Morrison admitted to conducting the transaction and further admitted that he sold approximately 3 grams of crack to a confidential informant for $200 outside of the Huntington residence on August 14, 2025.
Morrison is among seven individuals who pleaded guilty as the result of an investigation targeting the distribution of controlled substances in the Huntington area.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-156.
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Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marrio Adam Kinchen, also known as “Kardi,” 37, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 2, 2025, Kinchen sold approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a Huntington address in exchange for $200.
Kinchen is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-20.
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Detroit Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Multiple Felony Drug Crimes in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Lamarr Anthony Welch, also known as “Joe,” 35, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for 11 felony drug offenses. Welch admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Welch admitted that he participated in the conspiracy, distributed various quantities of methamphetamine totaling 651 grams on multiple occasions between March 3, 2025, and August 27, 2025, and distributed 4.4 grams fentanyl on August 27, 2025, as part of the DTO.
On September 10, 2025, law enforcement officers arrested Welch at a trailer in Huntington where the DTO stored drugs for distribution and seized approximately 3.95 kilograms of methamphetamine, 266 grams of fentanyl, and a loaded firearm.
Welch pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl.
Welch conducted transactions arranged by or at the direction of three co-defendants: Joshua Willie McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 28, of Detroit; McCarver’s nephew, Darnell Marice McCarver, also known as “WAP,” 19, of Detroit; and Geon Lavell Henderson, also known as “Money,” 53, of Huntington.
The three co-defendants and Welch are among six defendants who pleaded guilty following their indictment on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. Darnell Marice McCarver was sentenced on April 13, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. Henderson was sentenced on June 22, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl. Joshua Willie McCarver is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The indictment remains pending against three other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Welch was sentenced as a career offender, with a criminal history that includes two prior convictions for armed robbery.
“This career criminal flooded Huntington with a staggering amount of dangerous drugs,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Today’s sentence reflects the severity of the harm he inflicted and demonstrates our commitment to bring the full weight of the law down on those who target our communities with this poison.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154.
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South Carolina Woman Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Della Palestino, 60, of Lexington, South Carolina, pleaded guilty today to aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between August 23, 2024, and September 26, 2024, Palestino visited four financial institutions in the Southern District of West Virginia and used a different individual’s personal identifying information, including a forged signature, to access that individual’s bank account without the individual’s authorization. Palestino withdrew $2,125 in Huntington on August 23, 2024, $21,920 in Spencer on September 19, 2024, $4,200 in Charleston on September 26, 2024, and $9,400 in Gilbert on September 26, 2024. As part of her guilty plea, Palestino admitted that she conducted all four fraudulent transactions and withdrew a total of $37,645 from the bank accounts of the four individuals. Palestina further admitted that she used a counterfeit passport card during one of the fraudulent withdrawals.
Palestino is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2026, and faces a mandatory two years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Palestino also owes $37,645 in restitution.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service, the West Virginia State Police, the Huntington Police Department, the Charleston Police Department, and the Gilbert Police Department and the assistance provided by the West Virginia Fusion Center.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer D. Gordon is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-118.
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Fayette County Woman Sentenced for Federal Fraud CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Crystal Renee Severson, 45, of Dixie, was sentenced today to one year of federal probation and ordered to pay $1,855 in restitution for fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, features, and information.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from March 28, 2016, to March 16, 2022, Severson was employed an administrative assistant at the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists with duties that included receiving applications and application fees from individuals seeking to be licensed as nail technicians.
On or about January 10, 2022, Severson altered a $100 money order submitted by a licensure applicant by removing the payee’s name and address. As part of her plea agreement, Severson admitted that she replaced that information with the name and address of her mother and deposited the money order in her own personal bank account. Severson further admitted that her mother was unaware that she had altered the money order and had not given her permission to use her name on it.
Severson also admitted that she fraudulently deposited 19 other money orders submitted by licensure applicants between August 21, 2019, and November 23, 2021. The 20 money orders fraudulently deposited by Severson totaled $1,855.00.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) and the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-26.
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