CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A New Jersey man was sentenced to federal prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  James Terry, 38, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.    Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, with the support of the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Oak Hill Police Department. 

“Terry was a major oxycodone dealer,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “The day we took Terry and his co-conspirators off the streets was a great day for the citizens of Fayette County.”

At his plea hearing in July, Terry previously admitted that between October 2017 and September 2018, he worked with other members of a drug trafficking organization operating between Fayette County, West Virginia and New Jersey to distribute oxycodone pills.  It was established that on May 31, 2018, Terry distributed over 500 oxycodone pills to another member of the drug trafficking organization in Fayette County, West Virginia.  Terry obtained the oxycodone tablets in New Jersey and transported them to West Virginia.  It was further established that on June 20, 2018 he was driving a car again transporting oxycodone pills from New Jersey to West Virginia.  It was the plan to deliver the pills to the same member of the drug trafficking organization in West Virginia to be redistributed and sold illegally in the Southern District of West Virginia for profit.  Prior to delivering the pills to West Virginia, the car Terry was driving was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Police.  During the traffic stop, approximately 997 oxycodone pills were recovered.  The pills were hidden in a secret compartment, commonly referred to as a trap.    The prosecution of Terry culminated from a joint investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies known as Mountaineer Highway. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Andrew J. Tessman handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayette County man pled guilty for his participation in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Fayette County, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Ryan Johnson, 37, of Oak Hill, Fayette County, entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and a quantity of oxycodone.  The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force conducted the investigation with the support of the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Oak Hill Police Department. 

“Johnson is the tenth defendant convicted as a result of Operation Mountaineer Highway,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “This exemplary operation conducted by law enforcement dismantled a significant DTO and, no doubt, saved lives.”

Johnson admitted that between October 2017 and September 2018, he worked with other members of a DTO operating between Fayette County, West Virginia and New Jersey to distribute heroin and oxycodone pills.  Johnson admitted to selling oxycodone and heroin to a confidential informant working with law enforcement on two separate occasions.  He further admitted that he was supplied with drugs by other members of the DTO that transported the drugs from New Jersey to Fayette County, West Virginia.  Johnson also admitted to sending approximately $21,000 to his suppliers in New Jersey as payment for controlled substances.  The controlled substances he obtained from New Jersey were re-distributed to other members of the DTO in Fayette County.  Johnson admitted that he knew it was the plan to distribute the oxycodone and heroin in the Southern District of West Virginia.         

Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 5 years and up to 40 years in federal prison and a $5,000,000 fine when he is sentenced on November 12, 2019.

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Andrew J. Tessman are in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.

 

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two New Jersey men pled guilty today for their participation in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Fayette County, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Fuquan Hagler, 40, of East Orange, New Jersey, entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and Brian Kelley, 46, also from New Jersey, entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute more than 500  grams of cocaine.  Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, with the support of the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Oak Hill Police Department. 

“Two more out-of-state drug dealers held accountable for peddling their poisons in our communities,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “The drug dealers involved in this DTO were wreaking havoc in our southern counties, but we have put them out of business.”

Hagler admitted that in June 2018, he worked with other members of a drug trafficking organization operating between Fayette County, West Virginia and New Jersey to distribute oxycodone pills.  Hagler admitted that on June 20, 2018 he was a passenger in car transporting oxycodone pills from New Jersey to West Virginia.  It was the plan to deliver the pills to another member of the drug trafficking organization in West Virginia to be redistributed and sold illegally in the Southern District of West Virginia for profit.  Prior to delivering the pills to West Virginia, the car Hagler was in was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Police.  During the traffic stop, approximately 997 oxycodone pills were recovered.  The pills were hidden in a secret compartment, commonly referred to as a trap. 

Additionally, Kelley admitted that on July 7, 2018 he was involved in a conspiracy that was transporting controlled substances from New Jersey to the Southern District of West Virginia.  Kelley admitted to traveling to a co-defendant’s residence in Fayette County, and picking up over $21,000 in cash for another member of the drug trafficking organization.  Police officers later stopped the car Kelley was driving and found over $21,000 in cash and approximately 639 grams of cocaine.  Both the cash and the cocaine were found in a hidden electronic compartment.          

Hagler faces up to twenty years in prison and a $1,000,000.00 fine.  Kelley faces a mandatory minimum period of not less than 5 years and up to 40 years and a $5,000,000 fine.  Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2019.  

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Andrew J. Tessman are in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.

 

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty for his participation in a drug trafficking operation in Fayette County, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. James Terry, 38, of East Orange, New Jersey, entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.  Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, with the support of the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug Task Force, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Oak Hill Police Department. 

“Operation Mountaineer Highway shut down a significant DTO responsible for bringing large amounts of oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, meth and cocaine into our central and southern counties,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Terry is one of the 12 defendants charged by federal indictment as a result of the very thorough investigation conducted by law enforcement.”

Terry admitted that between October 2017 and September 2018, he worked with other members of a drug trafficking organization operating between Fayette County, West Virginia and New Jersey to distribute oxycodone pills.  It was established that on May 31, 2018, Terry distributed over 500 oxycodone pills to another member of the drug trafficking organization in Fayette County, West Virginia.  Terry obtained the oxycodone tablets in New Jersey and transported them to West Virginia.  It was further established that on June 20, 2018 he was driving a car again transporting oxycodone pills from New Jersey to West Virginia.  It was the plan to deliver the pills to the same member of the drug trafficking organization in West Virginia to be redistributed and sold illegally in the Southern District of West Virginia for profit.  Prior to delivering the pills to West Virginia, the car Terry was driving was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Police.  During the traffic stop, approximately 997 oxycodone pills were recovered.  The pills were hidden in a secret compartment, commonly referred to as a trap.         

Terry faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000.00 fine when he is sentenced on October 3, 2019.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.

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