HUNTINGTON W.Va. – A formal postal employee who participated in a scheme to distribute marijuana mailed from California to Huntington over a period of several years was sentenced to federal prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Michael Mason Morton, 55, was sentenced to six months in federal prison after previously entering a guilty plea to distribution of marijuana. 

“Morton abused his position as a letter carrier with the United States Postal Service,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “He was a drug dealer in a postal uniform with a delivery route.  The team of law enforcement personnel that worked this case did an outstanding job and put an end to this marijuana distribution scheme.”

On March 15, 2018, agents located two parcels at the Huntington Post Office which had been mailed from the State of California to Huntington and were found to contain marijuana.  Agents conducting surveillance observed Morton, a letter carrier with the United State Postal Service at the time, load the parcels into a postal delivery truck and drive to the Dollar General store located in the 800 block of Norway Avenue in Huntington.  At that location, Morton provided the marijuana to another individual who arrived in a separate vehicle.  A trooper with the West Virginia State Police subsequently conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and recovered the parcels which contained approximately 16 pounds of marijuana. 

Morton further admitted that, between 2015 and March of 2018, he conspired with others to distribute marijuana in the Huntington area.  During the conspiracy, marijuana was frequently shipped through the United States mail from California to Huntington.  Once the parcels containing marijuana arrived in Huntington, Morton delivered the parcels on his assigned delivery route.  Morton admitted that he was paid money for his participation in the conspiracy and that he was responsible for the distribution of up to 80 kilograms of marijuana.      

The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the West Virginia State Police – Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Barboursville Police Department, conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two Huntington men who participated in a scheme to mail marijuana from California to Huntington over a period of several years were sentenced yesteday, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  James Waylon Molinaro ,44, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison after previously entering a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute marijuana.  Molinaro also previously pled guilty to prohibited possession of a firearm by a felon stemming from an unrelated investigation.  Chris Crookshanks, 43, was sentenced to three years of supervised release during which he must serve 12 weeks of intermittent confinement in jail.  Crookshanks previously entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute marijuana. 

“The U.S. Postal Service’s “if it fits, it ships” campaign does not apply to illegal drugs” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Unfortunately, the U.S. Mail has become a frequently used method for drug dealers to transport their inventory and, sadly, in this case, a postal service employee was corruptly involved.  Law enforcement is keenly aware of the risk of shipments of dangerous drugs in the mail and we are working together to prosecute both the shippers and receivers of illicit drugs. I greatly admire the postal service and their committed employees. Fortunately, we won’t allow a bad apple to sully the orchard.”  

Molinaro and Crookshanks admitted that, between 2013 and March of 2018, they and others conspired to distribute marijuana in the Huntington area. During the conspiracy, Molinaro acquired marijuana in California and arranged for it to be shipped through the United States mail from California to Huntington.  Once the parcels containing marijuana arrived in Huntington, Molinaro paid multiple postal employees, including Crookshanks who was a letter carrier with the postal service, to deliver the parcels on their assigned delivery routes or to meet Molinaro at other locations to provide the parcels to him.  

On March 15, 2018, agents located two parcels at the Huntington Post Office which had been mailed from the State of California to Huntington which were found to contain marijuana.  Agents conducting surveillance observed a postal employee load the parcels into a postal delivery truck and drive to the Dollar General store located in the 800 block of Norway Avenue in Huntington.  At that location, the postal employee provided the parcels to Molinaro who arrived in a separate vehicle.  A trooper with the West Virginia State Police subsequently conducted a traffic stop of Molinaro’s vehicle in the 1000 block of 9th Street in Huntington and recovered the parcels.  The parcels were found to contain a total of 16 pounds of marijuana which Molinaro admitted that he intended to distribute.

As part of their pleas, Molinaro admitted that he was responsible for the shipment and distribution of at least 100 kilograms of marijuana, and Crookshanks admitted that he was responsible for the delivery of at least 40 kilograms of marijuana, during the conspiracy.    

Molinaro had also previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  On July 29, 2018, Molinaro was at a night club on Route 60 in Barboursville when he was asked to leave after a club employee observed him possessing a firearm.  Molinaro exited the club, fired multiple shots in the club’s parking lot, briefly left the scene, and then returned.  A Barboursville police officer responding to a call for assistance at the club subsequently located Molinaro in possession of .38 caliber revolver.  Molinaro was prohibited from possessing a firearm based on multiple prior felony convictions for distribution of cocaine and possession of cannabis for sale

The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the West Virginia State Police – Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Barboursville Police Department, conducted the investigation.   United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecutions.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A second former postal employee who helped deliver marijuana which was mailed from California to Huntington over a period of several years pled guilty today to a federal drug charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Michael Mason Morton, 54, entered a guilty plea to distribution of marijuana in federal court in Huntington.  Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the West Virginia State Police – Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.

“Yet another postal employee turned drug dealer,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.   “The postal employees engaged in this scheme abused their positions, turning postal delivery routes into drug trafficking routes.  This was an incredibly egregious, long-term drug networking scheme operating from California to West Virginia.  Those involved will be held accountable.”

On March 15, 2018, agents located two parcels containing marijuana at the Huntington Post Office which had been mailed from California.  Agents observed Morton load the parcels into his postal delivery truck and drive to the Dollar General store located in the 800 block of Norway Avenue in Huntington.  At that location, Morton provided the parcels to James Waylon Molinaro who arrived in a separate vehicle.  A Trooper with the West Virginia State Police subsequently conducted a traffic stop of Molinaro’s vehicle in the 1000 block of 9th Street in Huntington and recovered the parcels.  The parcels were found to contain a total of 16 pounds of marijuana.

As part of his plea, Morton admitted that, between 2015 and March of 2018, he conspired with Molinaro, Chris Crookshanks, and others to distribute marijuana in the Huntington area. During the conspiracy, Molinaro acquired marijuana in California and arranged for it to be shipped through the United States mail from California to Huntington.  Once the parcels containing marijuana arrived in Huntington, Molinaro paid multiple postal employees, including Morton and Crookshanks who were letter carriers with the postal service, to deliver the parcels on their assigned delivery routes or to meet Molinaro at other locations to provide the parcels to him.  Morton admitted that he was responsible for the delivery of up to 80 kilograms of marijuana during his participation in the conspiracy. 

Molinaro pled guilty on August 1, 2019, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana based on his involvement in the conspiracy.  Molinaro also pled guilty to prohibited possession of a firearm by a convicted felon stemming from an unrelated investigation and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, 2019.  Crookshanks pled guilty on August 5, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and is also scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, 2019.

Morton faces up to 5 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on November 4, 2019.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecutions.  The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A former postal employee who helped deliver marijuana which was mailed from California to Huntington over a period of several years pled guilty today to a federal drug charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Chris Crookshanks, 43, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute marijuana in federal court in Huntington.  Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the West Virginia State Police – Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West.

“Crookshanks was a letter carrier turned drug dealer,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “He used his position with the U.S. Postal Service to participate in and further a scheme to distribute marijuana – a complete betrayal of the public trust.”

Between 2013 and March of 2018, Crookshanks conspired with James Waylon Molinaro and others to distribute marijuana in the Huntington area. During the conspiracy, Molinaro acquired marijuana in California and arranged for it to be shipped through the United States mail from California to Huntington.  Once the parcels containing marijuana arrived in Huntington, Molinaro paid multiple postal employees, including Crookshanks who was a letter carrier with the postal service, to deliver the parcels on their assigned delivery routes or to meet Molinaro at other locations to provide the parcels to him.  Crookshanks admitted that he was responsible for the delivery of up to 60 kilograms of marijuana during his participation in the conspiracy. 

Molinaro pled guilty on August 1, 2019, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana based on his involvement in the conspiracy.  Molinaro also pled guilty to prohibited possession of a firearm by a convicted felon stemming from an unrelated investigation and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, 2019. 

Crookshanks faces up to 5 years in federal prison when he is sentenced, also on November 4, 2019.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.  The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

 

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man who helped organize a scheme to mail marijuana from California to Huntington over a period of several years pleaded guilty today to a federal drug charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  James Waylon Molinaro ,43, entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute marijuana in federal court in Huntington.  Molinaro also entered a guilty plea to prohibited possession of a firearm by a felon stemming from an unrelated investigation.  Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the West Virginia State Police – Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Barboursville Police Department.

“Marijuana is and remains illegal under federal law,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “This United States Attorney prosecutes all Federal lawbreakers including marijuana offenses and will continue to do so. The collaborative work of law enforcement agencies in this case got a violent drug dealer -- Molinaro – off the streets.”

On March 15, 2018, agents located two parcels at the Huntington Post Office which had been mailed from the State of California to Huntington which were found to contain marijuana.  Agents conducting surveillance observed a postal employee load the parcels into a postal delivery truck and drive to the Dollar General store located in the 800 block of Norway Avenue in Huntington.  At that location, the postal employee provided the parcels to Molinaro who arrived in a separate vehicle.  A trooper with the West Virginia State Police subsequently conducted a traffic stop of Molinaro’s vehicle in the 1000 block of 9th Street in Huntington and recovered the parcels.  The parcels were found to contain a total of 16 pounds of marijuana which Molinaro admitted that he intended to distribute.

As part of his plea, Molinaro further admitted that between 2012 and March of 2018, he conspired with multiple postal employees to ship marijuana from California to Huntington for distribution.  During the conspiracy, Molinaro acquired marijuana in California and arranged for it to be shipped through the United States mail to Huntington.  Once the parcels arrived in Huntington, Molinaro paid multiple postal employees to deliver the parcels on their assigned delivery routes or to meet Molinaro at other locations to provide the parcels to him.  Molinaro admitted that he was responsible for the shipment and distribution up to 400 kilograms of marijuana during the conspiracy. 

Molinaro also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on July 29, 2018.  On that date, Molinaro was at a night club on Route 60 in Barboursville when he was asked to leave after a club employee observed him possessing a firearm.  Molinaro exited the club, fired multiple shots in the club’s parking lot, briefly left the scene, and then returned.  A Barboursville police officer responding to a call for assistance at the club subsequently located Molinaro in possession of .38 caliber revolver.  Molinaro was prohibited from possessing a firearm based on multiple prior felony convictions for distribution of cocaine and possession of cannabis for sale. 

Molinaro faces up to 15 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on November 4, 2019.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.  The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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