CHARLESTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio, drug trafficker was sentenced to 131 months in prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Rodney Lammar Hargrove, 48, previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

“Another Akron drug dealer on Charleston’s West Side with 20 grams of pure meth, 6 grams of a mixture containing deadly carfentanyl, and a gun,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “A gram of carfentanyl could kill 50,000 people, so we’re very fortunate law enforcement intercepted this deadly mixture. Hargrove will now serve almost 11 years in prison before he can step foot in Akron or Charleston again.”

As established by public court filings and hearings, on February 16, 2018, police were investigating a known drug house on Frame Street in Charleston.  The investigators found heroin, needles, and other drug paraphernalia in the house.  As they were preparing to leave, Hargrove entered the house.  Hargrove admitted that he was carrying a gun, which the investigators retrieved for their safety.  The gun was a loaded .22 caliber revolver.  Hargrove also gave the investigators permission to retrieve drugs that he was carrying: approximately 20 grams of pure methamphetamine and 6 grams of a mixture containing carfentanyl, a powerful and deadly fentanyl analogue.

Investigators arrested Hargrove and transported him to the police station, where he confessed to investigators that he was a drug dealer.  Hargrove explained that he had been receiving about a half-ounce of methamphetamine and 10 grams of heroin at a time for resale in Charleston.

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorneys Drew O. Inman and L. Alexander Hamner prosecuted the case.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – An Akron, Ohio, man admitted to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Rodney Lammar Hargrove, age 48, pled guilty today before United States District Judge David E. Faber.  Stuart commended the investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), Charleston Police Department, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, St. Albans Police Department, and South Charleston Police Department.

“Another out-of-state drug dealer with meth, heroin and a gun -- and CARFENTANYL -- on Charleston’s West Side,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Carfentanyl- the same fentanyl analogue that is used to tranquilize elephants. I am so grateful to our law enforcement officers for getting Hargrove and these deadly drugs off our streets and away from our families.”

As established by public court filings and hearings, on February 16, 2018, police were investigating a known drug house on Frame Street in Charleston, West Virginia.  The investigators found suspected heroin, needles, and other drug paraphernalia.  As they were preparing to leave, Hargrove entered the house.  Hargrove admitted that he was carrying a gun, which the investigators retrieved for their safety.  Hargrove also gave the investigators permission to retrieve drugs that he was carrying: approximately 20 grams of ice methamphetamine and approximately 6 grams of a mixture containing carfentanyl, a powerful and deadly fentanyl analogue.

Investigators arrested Hargrove and transported him to the police station, where he confessed to investigators that he was a drug dealer.  Hargrove explained that he had been receiving about a half-ounce of methamphetamine and 10 grams of heroin at a time for resale in Charleston.

Hargrove is facing a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and up to life imprisonment when he is sentenced on August 6, 2019.  Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman is handling the prosecution.

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

 

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