CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson honored more than 80 federal, state and local law enforcement professionals today for their outstanding contributions to investigations and cases in the Southern District of West Virginia.The 2024 Law Enforcement Awards, presented during a ceremony at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston, recognize both invaluable assistance within specific categories of cases and office initiatives as well as overall exemplary service over the past year.“Today, we recognize and honor those who did an outstanding job serving and protecting our communities during the past year. They provided vitally important assistance to our office in the pursuit of justice,” Thompson said. “We also celebrate and promote the cooperation among agencies. Through these awards, we salute collaborative efforts, including joint investigations and partnerships formed to spearhead criminal justice initiatives. These are so crucial to our shared mission.”Law enforcement officers and organizations were honored in the following categories:Category: White Collar CrimeOutstanding White Collar Crime Case: U.S. vs David K. Smith et al. (3:23-cr-5)Port Security Specialist Todd A. Childers, United States Coast Guard (USCG)Marine Science Technician First Class Caitlin Furman, USCGMarine Science Technician First Class Adam Krukowski, USCGMarine Science Technician First Class Lenn L. Pitt, USCGChief Warrant Officer Michael D. Rushane, USCGChief of Inspections Geoffrey Scibek, USCGSpecial Agent Nick Gillispie, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)Special Agent Kim Taylor, USEPAEnvironmental Inspector Supervisor Ryan Harbison, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection An investigation revealed that David K. Smith, 69, of Paducah, Kentucky, was the sole owner and officer of Western River Assets LLC and River Marine Enterprises LLC. Western River Assets owned a towboat, Gate City, that docked along the West Virginia shore of the Big Sandy River.The U.S. Coast Guard inspected the Gate City towboat and issued an administrative order in November 2017 that required Smith to remove all oil and hazardous materials from the Gate City towboat. This administrative order said in part that the Gate City presented an “imminent and substantial threat to the public health or welfare of the environment because of a threatened discharge of oil from the vessel.”On or about January 10, 2018, the Gate City towboat sank while docked along the West Virginia shore of the Big Sandy River. The sinking discharged oil and other substances into the Big Sandy, leaving a sheen on the river and oily deposits beneath the surface. As a direct result of the Gate City’s sinking and oil spill, the City of Kenova, West Virginia, closed its municipal drinking water intake for three days. Various regulatory agencies had to take actions and expend resources to respond to the spill.Smith pleaded guilty individually and on behalf of River Marine Enterprises and Western River Assets to the discharge of refuse into navigable waters on October 17, 2023. Smith was subsequently sentenced to one year and six months of federal probation, including six months on home detention. River Marine Enterprises and Western River Assets were each fined $100,000 and placed on corporate probation for five years. The defendants were also ordered to pay $1,856,957.92 in restitution, and the LLC defendants are prohibited from operating any business while on probation.Outstanding White Collar Crime Case: U.S. vs Tabatha Deavers et al. (2:23-cr-14)Inspector Melissa Belmont, United States Postal Inspection ServiceUnited States Secret Service Special Agent Bryan Cruickshank (now with the United States Postal Inspection Service)Special Agent Gary Hilton, U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security InvestigationsSpecial Agent Brian Horvath, United States Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector GeneralDetective Brian Middleton, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office From approximately December 2020 through at least December 1, 2022, Brittany King, 35, of East Bank, and Tabatha Deavers, 30, of Charleston, were employed by a Kanawha County business that cleaned local office spaces. King and Deavers unlawfully obtained the personal identification information of multiple individuals while cleaning these area businesses. They also rerouted the mail of their identity theft victims, which allowed King and Deavers to open lines of credit and bank accounts and obtain loans and credit cards in the names of their identity theft victims.King and Deavers caused a loss of at least $260,239.19 to more than 10 victims as a result of their fraudulent schemes. They stole money and property from individuals, lenders, financial institutions, car dealerships and other companies.King and Deavers pleaded guilty in the fall of 2023 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. They were both sentenced to five years in prison. The mother of Tabatha Deavers, Amy Deavers, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with this case. Amy Deavers admitted that she helped access and attempt to transfer a veteran’s stolen disability benefits as part of the identity theft scheme.Category: Project Safe ChildhoodProject Safe Childhood (PSC) is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched by the Department of Justice in 2006. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.Outstanding PSC Case: U.S. vs Thomas John Mills (5:21-cr-96)Detective Wayne Long, Raleigh County Sheriff’s OfficeDetective Jarred Payne, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office On or about March 10, 2020, Thomas John Mills, 37, of Beckley, was released from jail following a conviction for child abuse causing injury against a 15-year-old female victim. After being released from jail through October 2020, Mills communicated via his cell phone and Facebook Messenger to coerce the same15-year-old female victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct including masturbation and the lascivious exhibition of her genitals, for the purpose of creating images and videos of this conduct. Mills had the minor take pictures and videos to send to him and also had her participate in live video chats where he told her to engage in sexually explicit conduct. The Court described the case as “one of the worst set of circumstances” it has seen.” Mills pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. On February 23, 2023, Mills was sentenced to 30 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, and is required to register as a sex offender.Category: Drug TraffickingOutstanding Drug Trafficking Case: Operation Smoke & MirrorsU.S. v. Jasper Wemh et al. (2:23-cr-4), U.S. v. Antonio Jeffries et al. (2:23-cr-31), U.S. v. Alexandria Estep et al. (2:23-cr-33), U.S. v. Ildiberto Gonzalez Jr. et al. (1:23-cr-32) Digital Forensic Specialist Kelsey Billups, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):Paralegal Specialist Amy Boyd, FBISenior Digital Forensic Examiner Melinda Cash, FBITactical Specialist Rose Chestnut, FBIIntelligence Analyst Sarah Cole, FBISpecial Agent Mark Phillip Gunther II, FBISpecial Agent Jennifer L. King, FBISenior Financial Investigator Dean A. Lauffer, FBIEvidence Technician Joshua VanMeter, FBIKeven Allen, Charleston Police Department, Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT)Detective Matthew Cooper, St. Albans Police Department, MDENTCorporal Wes Daniels, Charleston Police Department, MDENTDetective David Harvey, South Charleston Police Department, MDENTDetective Jordan Hilbert, Charleston Police Department, MDENTCorporal Paul J. Hodge, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, MDENTCorporal Brian Hudson, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, MDENTCorporal Seth Johnson, Charleston Police Department, MDENTAdministrative Assistant Lori Lipscomb, MDENTCorporal Owen Morris, Charleston Police Department, MDENTLieutenant Justin Raynes, Nitro Police Department, MDENTDetective Nigel Waller, Charleston Police Department, MDENTDeputy Chief of Police Jason Webb, Former MDENT Commander, Charleston Police DepartmentCorporal Michelle R. Shaffer, West Virginia State PoliceSpecial Agent Ambra Dunn, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA):Detective Alexander Bobinger, Charleston Police DepartmentSpecial Agent Dan Karshenas, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) The eight-month investigation dubbed Operation Smoke and Mirrors resulted in the largest seizure of methamphetamine to date in the state of West Virginia. It disrupted a drug trafficking organization (DTO) with connections to California and the southern border that was responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl in Charleston.Law enforcement obtained more than 50 search warrants, culminating in waves of arrests in March 2023. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash.Four federal indictments were returned charging 32 individuals for their roles in the DTO. Another 24 individuals were charged in state criminal complaints. Thirty of the federal defendants pleaded guilty. Another was convicted by a federal jury after a two-day trial. The remaining federal defendant, Deayria Eyshay Willis, 25, of Charleston, is a fugitive. Nearly two dozen of the federal defendants were sentenced to prison. Eight of those defendants were sentenced to 10 years or more of imprisonment.This investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. It is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Critical to the success of this strategy is harnessing the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies while in cooperation with state and local law enforcement.Outstanding Drug Trafficking Case:  U.S. vs Raymond Jaquette Howard, et al. (3:22-cr-102)Special Agent Ben Henrich, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA):Special Agent Brian Roscoe, DEASpecial Agent Matt Yount, DEACorporal K.L. Adkins, West Virginia State Police, Violent Crime and Drug Task Force WestFirst Sergeant P.W. Boyles, West Virginia State Police, Violent Crime and Drug Task Force WestCaptain Lacy J. Deskins, West Virginia State Police, Violent Crime and Drug Task Force WestSergeant J.R. Garnes, West Virginia State Police, Violent Crime and Drug Task Force WestFirst Sergeant J.M. Parde, West Virginia State Police, Violent Crime and Drug Task Force WestDetective Jon Vernon, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, Violent Crime and Drug Task Force WestLieutenant T.L. Weese, West Virginia State Police, Violent Crime and Drug Task Force WestSergeant A.M. Whittington, West Virginia State Police On September 22, 2021, Howard, 34, of Las Vegas, Nevada, sold approximately 1.01 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Huntington motel. On November 16, 2021, law enforcement searched Howard’s motel room and found approximately 4.6 pounds of fentanyl and a loaded Glock 43x pistol hidden in the ceiling. On December 24, 2021, Howard was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement officers. The vehicle was searched an officers found approximately 399.6 grams of fentanyl in a backpack. Howard admitted that the fentanyl was his and that he intended to sell the fentanyl or direct others to sell the fentanyl on his behalf.Howard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced on January 17, 2023, to 14 years and eight months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.A related defendant, Jamie Lyn Music, 41, also of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.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.Category: Violent Crime and Project Safe NeighborhoodsProject Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.Outstanding Violent Crime and Project Safe Neighborhood Case: U.S v. Randell Lee Proctor (2:23-cr-74)Special Agent Jarrod Chittum, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)Special Agent Mari Woodford, ATFDetective Chris Boner, Kanawha County Sheriff’s OfficeDeputy Nathan Brill, Kanawha County Sheriff’s OfficeDeputy T.D. Burks, Kanawha County Sheriff’s OfficeDeputy D.J. Dorsey, Kanawha County Sheriff’s OfficeTrooper D.M. Copley, West Virginia State PoliceTrooper Larry Holstein III, West Virginia State PoliceForensic Scientist Farrah S. Machado, West Virginia State PoliceCorporal S.W. Perdue, West Virginia State PoliceSergeant Joseph Robinson, West Virginia State PoliceOn December 29, 2022, Randell Lee Proctor, 45, of Belle, was engaged in a domestic altercation with his girlfriend while armed with a handgun. Proctor fired one round into the air while walking through a neighborhood in Rand. He fired a second round into the ceiling of a front porch at a residence where the girlfriend was inside. Proctor then entered the residence and began physically assaulting the girlfriend. Law enforcement officers responded after receiving complaints about the gunshots and found Proctor inside the residence. They recovered a Hi-Point, model C9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Proctor pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Proctor had four prior convictions for domestic battery in Kanawha County Magistrate Court. He was sentenced on December 7, 2023, to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.Outstanding Violent Crime and Project Safe Neighborhood Case:  U.S. vs Thomas Ray III (3:21-cr-57)Officer Ernie Blackburn, Huntington Police DepartmentCorporal Nicholas Bloomfield, Huntington Police DepartmentCaptain Steve Compton, Huntington Police DepartmentPFC Angela Faircloth, Huntington Police DepartmentSergeant Steve Fitz, Huntington Police DepartmentDetective Christopher Hurst, Huntington Police DepartmentOfficer Matt Keesee, Huntington Police DepartmentSergeant Joseph Koher, Huntington Police DepartmentSergeant Adrian Roasario, Huntington Police DepartmentCorporal David Rowsey, Huntington Police DepartmentSpecial Agent Jarrod Chittum, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)On October 23, 2020, Thomas Ray III, 54, of Huntington, entered an Artisan Avenue residence in Huntington where he physically assaulted two women, brandished a firearm, pointed it at the forehead of a third woman and fired two rounds into the air. Officers responding to the resulting 911 calls located Ray in an alley several blocks from Artisan Avenue. Ray fired a round at one officer and continued to flee. Ray fired several more shots at officers while fleeing before they returned fire and wounded him in the leg.Ray was still holding the firearm while on the ground and resisted being placed into custody. Officers recovered the firearm, a loaded Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield .40-caliber pistol, after Ray tossed it to the ground. Officers also found .40-caliber ammunition and a Harrington and Richardson revolver in Ray’s pants pockets.A federal jury found Ray guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm on July 12, 2023, following a two-day trial. Ray knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for forcible detention while armed and giving a false bomb or gas alarm in Will County, Illinois, Circuit Court on February 28, 2012, and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 9, 2013.At the time of this offense, Ray was serving a term of federal supervised release for the 2013 conviction. Ray was sentenced on December 18, 2023, to 12 years in prison, including two years for committing a crime while on supervised release.Outstanding Violent Crime and Project Safe Neighborhood Case: U.S. v. Stephen Simmons (3:23-cr-21)Senior Special Agent Jason J. Berty, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)Branch Chief David Bullard, ATFSpecial Agent Jarrod C. Chittum, ATFSpecial Agent Kachine R. Jonese, ATF     Special Agent Sean McNees, ATFSpecial Agent Mari Woodford, ATFDetective Mathew Cooper, St. Albans Police DepartmentLieutenant Brandon Perry, St. Albans Police DepartmentSergeant J.R. Farry, Nitro Police DepartmentOn January 3, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Stephen Simmons, 41, of Nitro. Law enforcement seized two Glock switches, two drop-in auto sears, six firearm silencers, and more than 40 firearms including a Ruger, model 10/22, .22-caliber rifle that was reported stolen in Boone County.Simmons pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered machinegun for possessing one of the Glock switches, admitting that he did not register device in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law.Investigators documented Simmons’ substantial history of unlawful drug use and addiction. Their investigation showed that Simmons was illegally using drugs at the same time he possessed firearms, silencers, and devices designed solely to convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machineguns. The Court concluded that Simmons was an unlawful user of controlled substances, and as a result was prohibited from possessing firearms on January 3, 2023. Simmons was sentenced on September 12, 2023, to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.Drug and Violent Crime Task Force of the Year: Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT)The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Drug and Violent Crime Task Force of the Year recognizes outstanding cooperative law enforcement efforts and endeavors that have significant and lasting community impact. This award is a highlight of our annual ceremony because it not only honors a task force for one or more specific cases but also for their continuing role in significant investigations and prosecutions.The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) 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.This year’s award recognizes MDENT for its role in Operation Smoke and Mirrors.Law Enforcement Officers of the YearOur Law Enforcement Officer of the Year awards honor individual federal, state, and local officers selected for work that consistently stands out in significant cases.Federal Law Enforcement Officers of the Year: Special Agent Terrance “Terry” Taylor, U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)State Law Enforcement Officers of the Year: Captain Lacy Deskins, West Virginia State PoliceLocal Law Enforcement Officers of the Year: Deputy Jason A. Redden, Raleigh County Sheriff’s OfficeEach of these individuals has distinguished himself in multiple cases prosecuted by this office. This award also honors them for their consistently outstanding contributions throughout their careers to the criminal justice system and the communities they serve.Outstanding Community Partner: West Virginia State UniversityWest Virginia State University has been a committed contributor as a West Virginia Civil Rights Stakeholder and a gracious host of the Stakeholders’ quarterly meetings. The Civil Rights Stakeholders are an array of federal, state and local agencies and organizations committed to addressing and responding to hate crimes and incidents in the Southern District of West Virginia. West Virginia State University is also a valued partner with this office in the advancement of the Department of Justice’s United Against Hate initiative, a nationwide initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate and improve hate crime reporting.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. ###  

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson honored more than 60 federal, state and local law enforcement professionals today for their outstanding contributions to investigations and cases in the Southern District of West Virginia.

The 2023 Law Enforcement Awards, presented during a ceremony at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston, recognize both invaluable assistance within specific categories of cases and office initiatives as well as overall exemplary service over the past year.

“These are the men and women who keep our communities safe. They represent the ideals of law enforcement,” Thompson said. “Through these awards, we particularly seek to honor collaborative efforts, in the way of joint investigations or partnerships formed to spearhead criminal justice initiatives.”

The annual awards ceremony is held in conjunction with National Police Week, which pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. The names engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial this year include that of Nicholas County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Edward Baker III. On June 3, 2022, Deputy Baker was fatally shot while he and other law enforcement officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the Birch River area.

Thompson led a moment of silence for Deputy Baker and other fallen law enforcement officers during the ceremony.

Law enforcement officers and organizations were honored in the following categories:

Category: Project Safe Childhood

Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched by the Department of Justice in 2006. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Outstanding PSC Case: U.S. v. Todd Christopher Roatsey (2:21-cr-235)



Special Agent Terrance Taylor, HSI

Computer Forensic Analyst Leland “Fred” Pickering, HSI

Forensic Interview Specialist Candice Cooper, HSI

Criminal Analyst Chris Powell, HSI

Trooper First Class Michelle R. Shaffer, West Virginia State Police



Roatsey, a Kanawha County elementary school counselor, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempted production of child pornography and attempted enticement of a minor. Roatsey used the Snapchat instant messaging application to target multiple minor females. Roatsey knew several of the minor females through his position as a counselor at Pinch Elementary School. Roatsey also obstructed justice by deleting the Snapchat account he used to engage in these activities, after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at his residence and seized numerous electronic devices found to contain child pornography.

Category: White Collar Crime

Outstanding White Collar Crime Case: U.S. v. Kenneth Emeni et al. (3:21-cr-68)



Sergeant Bradford S. Burner, West Virginia State Police

Detective Jeremy Thompson, South Charleston Police Dept. (Task Force Officer)

Postal Inspector Seth Summers, U.S. Postal Inspection Service



Nine defendants were convicted in connection with multiple internet-based fraud schemes that operated in the Huntington area and defrauded at least 200 victims from across the country, many of them elderly, of at least $2.5 million. Fraud scheme participants created false personas to establish romantic, friendship or business relationships with unwitting individuals via email, text messaging, online dating websites and social media platforms. The victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas. The defrauded funds were laundered for distribution among the defendants and others. Some of the defrauded funds were transferred overseas.

Category: Outstanding Drug Trafficking Cases

U.S. v. Scott Midkiff et al. (3:21-cr-109)



Senior Supervisory Resident Agent Allen Davis II, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Special Agent Georgia Marshall, FBI

Special Agent Adam D. Bennett, FBI

Special Agent Letisha Hartsough, FBI (Columbus, Ohio)

Intelligence Analyst/Operational Support Technician Angie Botzet, FBI

Detective Jared Cremeans, Cabell County Sheriff’s Office (TFO)

Deputy Andrew Richmond, Cabell County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Russ Blank, Cabell County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy C.J. Stewart Cabell County Sheriff’s Office

Director Samuel L. Stowasser II, Cabell County Sheriff’s Office

HCO Matthew Denning, Cabell County Sheriff’s Office

Officer Evan Wilson, Hurricane Police Department (TFO)

Officer Nate Campbell, Marshall University Police Department (TFO)

Officer Matt Napier, Marshall University Police Department

Officer Ethan Smith, Marshall University Police Department

First Sergeant Lacy J. Deskins, West Virginia State Police

Sergeant Sally Hatten, West Virginia State Police

Corporal Kristy Adkins, West Virginia State Police

Trooper Nate Rodgers, West Virginia State Police



 

All 19 defendants in this case were convicted and sentenced to prison for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base (also known as “crack”), oxycodone, and heroin in the Huntington area. Law enforcement officers seized more than 47 pounds of fentanyl, 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 4.5 pounds of cocaine and 2 pounds of heroin as well as 14 firearms and more than $335,000 in cash. Nine defendants were sentenced to five years or more in prison, including four who were sentenced to prison terms of 10 years or more.

U.S. v. Jermaine Williams et al. (2:21-cr-32)



Special Agent Charles Tippett, Drug Enforcement Administration

Special Agent Lance Lehnhoff, DEA

Special Agent Anthony Brumfield, DEA

Intel Research Specialist James Summers, DEA          

Intel Research Specialist Kristi Rhoda, DEA

Special Agent Scott M. Smith, DEA (Detroit, Michigan)

Resident Agent in Charge David Bullard, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Deputy U.S. Marshal Marc Loretta, U.S. Marshals Service

Corporal Adam Aldridge, Charleston Police Department

Lt. Ryan Higginbotham, Charleston Police Department

Corporal Jonathan Weaver, Charleston Police Department (TFO)

Corporal Anthony Thomas, Charleston Police Department (TFO)

Sergeant Jason Webb, Charleston Police Department

Sergeant D.M. McMillan, West Virginia State Police



 

This investigation, dubbed “Woo Boyz,” disrupted a DTO with ties to the Bloods and Gangster Disciples criminal gangs. During the course of the nearly year-long investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine, more than $375,000 in cash, and 45 firearms including an IMI Industries Uzi fully automatic 9mm submachine gun. Members of this DTO were involved in or suspected of numerous shootings around Charleston but particularly on the West Side.  A dozen defendants were sentenced to prison terms of between two years and 20 years and one month after pleading guilty to various felony offenses.

U.S. v. Carlo Ramsey et al. (2:21-cr-163)



Detective Jonathan Casto, Williamstown Police Department

Special Agent Matthew Yount, DEA



The case resulted from a nearly year-long investigation dubbed “Long Time Coming.” Six defendants were convicted and sentenced to prison for their roles in a DTO responsible for distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana in Parkersburg and elsewhere. The investigation also yielded more than a dozen arrests on state criminal complaints in Wood County.

U.S. v. Ramon David Alston et al. (2:21-cr-172)



Special Agent Jennifer King, FBI

Special Agent John Reese, FBI

Special Agent Genevieve Baushke, FBI

Forfeiture Investigator Dean Lauffer, FBI

Intelligence Analyst Sarah Cole, FBI

Staff Operations Rose Chestnut, FBI

Resident Agent in Charge David Bullard, ATF

Sergeant Jason Webb, Charleston Police Department

Sergeant Jared Austin, St. Albans Police Department

Detective Justin Raynes, Nitro Police Department

Corporal Owen Morris, Charleston Police Department (TFO)

Detective P. J. Hodge, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office (TFO)

Corporal Seth Johnson, Charleston Police Department (TFO)

Corporal Wes Daniels, Charleston Police Department (TFO)

Lieutenant Ryan Higginbotham, Charleston Police Department

Corporal Adam Aldridge, Charleston Police Department

Corporal Justin Jones, Charleston Police Department

Detective Nigel Waller, Charleston Police Department

Detective Dakota Dennison, South Charleston Police Department

Detective David Harvey, South Charleston Police Department



 

This case resulted from an investigation that dismantled a large-volume DTO that operated primarily in the Charleston, Rand, and St. Albans areas of Kanawha County from March 2019 to September 2021. The DTO distributed more than 160 pounds of methamphetamine as well as quantities of fentanyl and other drugs. Law enforcement officers seized more than 12.3 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 34 firearms, more than $86,000 in cash, and several vehicles including three motorcycles. The investigation also prevented a fatal drug overdose in St. Albans and several violent incidents, including a plan by four of the defendants to murder an individual on Charleston’s West Side on July 4, 2021. All 17 individuals indicted in the case were convicted.

Category: Project Safe Neighborhoods

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Outstanding Violent Crime Case: U.S. v. Kymoni Davis (3:20-cr-18)



Special Agent Sean McNees, ATF

Special Agent Jeff Baker, ATF

Sergeant Steve Maniskas, Huntington Police Department

Sergeant Paul Matovich, Huntington Police Department

Detective Adrian Rosario, Huntington Police Department

Officer Ernie Blackburn, Huntington Police Department

Lieutenant Paul Minigh, Huntington Police Department

Lieutenant Eddie Pritchard, Huntington Police Department

Captain Stephen Compton, Huntington Police Department

Corporal Kyle Quinn, Huntington Police Department



 

Davis was sentenced to eight years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, after admitted to shooting into a Huntington club on January 1, 2020.

Davis had been ejected from the Kulture Hookah Bar during a New Year’s Eve party prior to midnight. Davis returned with a 9mm pistol and fired through the front door before fleeing the scene. Seven individuals were injured in the shooting. Surveillance video captured the shooting, and along with statements from witnesses helped to identify Davis. Spent casings at the scene collected by law enforcement officers were analyzed by the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, or NIBIN, and determined to match with a firearm seized by Charleston Police officers in an unrelated investigation. Davis was arrested in the Detroit area several months later and returned to West Virginia.

Outstanding Violent Crime Case: U.S. v. Bisheem Jones (5:22-cr-46)



Special Agent Jarrod C. Chittum, ATF

Special Agent Jeff Goode, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation

Special Agent Mark Pritt, IRS-CI



 

Nineteen individuals were convicted of various felony offenses after participating in a conspiracy led by Jones to traffic over 140 firearms from the Beckley area to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jones and his fellow gun traffickers and other co-conspirators recruited individuals from the Beckley area to straw purchase firearms on his behalf. Jones selected the firearms for these straw purchasers to buy and provided the money to purchase them. The straw purchasers falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that they were the buyers of the firearms when they knew they were purchasing them for Jones and his trafficking conspiracy.

The conspirators took the firearms back to Philadelphia to sell for profit. Of the over 140 firearms trafficked in the conspiracy, approximately 45 have been recovered at crime scenes primarily in Philadelphia. Those have been connected to two homicides, crimes of domestic violence, and other violent offenses.

Category: Drug and Violent Crime Task Force of the Year

FBI Transnational Organized Crime West Task Force

Commander: Acting Senior Supervisory Resident Agent Adam D. Bennett, FBI

This award recognizes outstanding cooperative law enforcement efforts and endeavors that have significant and lasting community impact. This year’s award recognizes the task force’s investigative efforts in U.S. v. Scott Midkiff et al.

The TOC-West Task Force consists of officers with the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Beckley Police Department, the Hurricane Police Department and the Marshall University Police Department, with support from the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.

Category: Law Enforcement Officers of the Year

Special Agent Jarrod C. Chittum, ATF

Sergeant Bradford S. Burner, West Virginia State Police

Corporal Jonathan Weaver, Charleston Police Department

 

This award category recognizes federal, state, and local law enforcement officers whose work consistently stands out in significant cases and honors them for their commitment, dedication, and leadership by example.

About National Police Week and National Peace Officers Memorial Day

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Deputy Baker’s name is among 224 added this year of officers who were killed during 2022. An additional 332 names engraved in 2023 are of officers died in years previous to 2022. They include the names of nine officers with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office killed in the line of duty between February 21, 1900, and October 5, 1933, and a McDowell County correctional officer killed on April 15, 1961. The full Roll Call of officers added to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial in 2023 is online: https://nleomf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/roll-call-2023-FINAL-updated-4-21-23.pdf

 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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CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Eight law enforcement entities and one community member were recognized today for their outstanding work in the greater Clarksburg/Elkins area.

United States Attorney Bill Powell recognized U.S. Probation Officer Jill Henline, ATF Special Agent Steve Worthy, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector Ryan Amstone, several other law enforcement professionals, and a community member with U.S. Attorney Awards for their contributions to create safer communities.

“I have the great pleasure to work many law enforcement and other community based professionals.  We honor these individuals and groups today because they are “difference makers” in our communities.  They represent the best of us, and our communities are better because of their extraordinary work,” said Powell.

United States Probation Officer Jill Henline was recognized for her work to ensure that a defendant paid her restitution after committing a crime. Loretta Reckart was convicted and sentenced for defrauding WVU out of a substantial amount of money. She was ordered to pay restitution in excess of $80,000. She was sentenced to probation and Jill Henline is her probation officer. Henline has went above and beyond to ensure that Reckart’s restitution is paid sooner, rather than later. Henline was the recipient of the U.S. Attorney Award for Outstanding Financial Investigation.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Steve Worthy has been involved in three multi-defendant Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF) cases.  Agent Worthy assisted other investigators in OCDETF’s Ice Mountain investigation, which resulted in a 2016 Elkins Division multi-defendant gun and drug trafficking indictment.  He took a leading role in OCDETF’s Shattered Glass investigation, which resulted in two 2017 Elkins Division multi-defendant gun and drug trafficking indictments.  He was the case agent at the trial of interstate drug trafficker Rocky Idleman, sentenced to life earlier this year.  And Agent Worthy took the leading role in 2018’s ICE Dragon investigation which resulted in a 2018 multi-defendant Clarksburg Division gun and drug trafficking indictment. Agent Worthy’ was the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Investigative Effort Award.

United States Postal Inspection Service Inspector Ryan Amstone has been working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Elder Justice Initiative’s focus on money mules.  With Ryan’s assistance, the office has identified people as money mules. Ryan has done six knock-and-talks on these individuals and explained to them that they may be a victim of a scam and to stop sending money.  Amstone has been doing excellent work in this area as the Elder Justice Initiative is one of the Department’s priorities. Amstone was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Initiative Support Award for his efforts.

The case against Meylan Montalvo Gomez, et al, with an investigation conducted jointly by the FBI, the USSS, the DHS, the WVSP, and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, discovered what has become known as a gas station skimmer scheme.  The victim cardholders were reimbursed by their banks, causing nine banks to be owed over $100,000. Because of the substantial work on this case, the 2019 Outstanding Fraud Investigative Effort Award was given to:

Detective William “Pete” Tennant, Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office

Sgt. David Simmons, West Virginia State Police

Task Force Officer Jason Webber, the FBI/Clarksburg Police Department

Task Force Officer Jeremy Thompson, the United States Secret Service/South Charleston Police Department 

Special Agent Scott Fell, Department of Homeland Security

A victim’s mother was also honored with the 2019 Outstanding Community Service Award for her efforts in an opioid case. 

The ceremony was held in U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patrick M. Flatley’s courtroom and included remarks from U.S. Attorney Bill Powell and the presence of many local, state and federal law enforcement leaders from throughout West Virginia.