HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man pled guilty today in federal court for his role in a conspiracy that involved large quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron and sold in West Virginia,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Brad Acy Holley, 39, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.  

“Holley was responsible for distributing up to 5 kilos of meth in our communities,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “He and his co-conspirators were bringing in tremendous amounts of meth from Akron and peddling it throughout the District.  We owe a debt of gratitude to our law enforcement partners that shuttered this drug trafficking organization.”

Holley admitted that between the Fall of 2018, and September of 2019, he participated in a conspiracy with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia.  During the conspiracy, Holley pooled money with another individual to obtain large quantities of methamphetamine which he and the other individual would then distribute.  Holley also began obtaining methamphetamine himself which was transported from Akron and sold in multiple cities in West Virginia including Huntington and Charleston.  Holley admitted that he was supplied methamphetamine on a regular basis and that he was aware some of the customers to whom he distributed methamphetamine intended to further distribute the drug across the district.  As part of his plea, Holley admitted that he was responsible for distributing up to 5 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.    

Holley faces 10 years to life in prison when sentenced on April 27, 2020.

This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Ona Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.  United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –  Defendants in three separate cases appeared in federal court on meth charges, said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. 

“We are prosecuting scores of meth traffickers throughout the District,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Over the past several years, we have made remarkable progress in the battle to end the chaos and destruction brought upon us by drug dealers and drug thugs. We are driven by a sense of urgency and, trust me, I not only have the backs of law enforcement but of the people of West Virginia in this righteous battle for our families and our communities.” 

Walter Ray Cavender, age 50, of Leon, Mason County, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Cavender previously admitted that on May 16, 2018, officers served a search warrant at his home on Evans Road in Leon. At the time they served the search warrant, Cavender had approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine in his home which he intended to sell. He also had digital scales and approximately $1300 in cash.  The Mason County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.   Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey handled the prosecution.

Johnny Belcher, Jr., 35, of Huntington, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Belcher previously admitted that on July 17, 2019, an  officer found approximately 24 grams of methamphetamine in his pockets.  Belcher told the officers the substance was “ice.”  The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation.    Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor handled the prosecution.

Charles Vincent Hively, Jr., 46, of Charleston pled guilty for his role in a conspiracy that involved large quantities of methamphetamine that were transported from Akron and sold in West Virginia.  Hively pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Hively admitted that, on June 7, 2019, officers came to his residence at 1195 Livingston Avenue in Charleston to execute a warrant that had been issued for his arrest.  When officers knocked on the door, they saw Hively look out the window and run to the rear of the residence.  Hively then threw a cigarette box from a rear window.  When officers recovered the box, they discovered that it contained approximately 24 grams of methamphetamine.  Officers also recovered additional methamphetamine from inside the residence and Hively admitted that he intended to distribute the drugs.  As part of his plea, Hively admitted that he was responsible for distributing up to 200 grams of methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia.    Hively faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on April 27, 2020.  This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Ona Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two defendants pled guilty for their roles in a conspiracy that involved large quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron and sold in West Virginia,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. 

“This collaborative investigation dismantled a drug trafficking organization that was transporting significant amounts of meth from Akron into West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Although our work is never done, it is through investigations like this that we are able to disrupt the supply of dangerous drugs coming into our state and hold drug dealers accountable.”

Bruce David Angeli, 57, of Charleston, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Angeli admitted that between May and June of 2019, he participated with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia.  During the conspiracy, Angeli frequently obtained quantities of methamphetamine which were transported by other co-conspirators from Akron to be sold in multiple cities in West Virginia including Huntington and Charleston.  Once Angeli was supplied with the methamphetamine, he would distribute it to other individuals in various amounts.  As part of his plea agreement, Angeli admitted that he was responsible for distributing up to 200 grams of methamphetamine.    Angeli faces 5 to 40 years in prison when sentenced on April 6, 2020.

Darla Renae Lattea, 40, of Scott Depot, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and prohibited possession of firearms by an unlawful drug user.  Lattea admitted that, on June 11, 2019, agents executed a search warrant at her residence in Scott Depot.  During the search, agents seized approximately 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms.  Lattea was present in the residence during the search and admitted that she possessed the methamphetamine and intended to sell it.  Lattea also admitted that she possessed the firearms and that she was a regular user of methamphetamine.  As part of her plea, Lattea further admitted that between April and September of 2019, she participated with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia.  During the conspiracy, Lattea obtained large quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron and sold in multiple cities in West Virginia including Hurricane, Scott Depot, and Charleston.  Lattea admitted that she was supplied methamphetamine on credit, that she would distribute the methamphetamine, and that she would return proceeds from the sales to drug dealers from the Akron area.  Lattea also admitted that she was responsible for distributing up to 5 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.   Lattea faces 10 years to life in prison when sentenced on April 13, 2020.

The joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.  United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecutions.

 

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