The investigation was part of the Department of Justices Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The drug epidemic in this state knows no socioeconomic or geographic boundaries and continues to affect West Virginians from all walks of life. U.S. Attorney Will Thompson said law enforcement also seized lesser amounts of cocaine and fentanyl along with 18 firearms and $747,000 in cash. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Phone: 866-566-0261. The announcement was made by Will Thompson, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, during a press conference Thursday, March 23rd, 2023 DEA Facebook page 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. Justin Allen Bowen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on February 23, 2023. Feds Announce Major Drug Bust, Arrests In West Virginia A joint investigation led by the DEA and FBI has resulted in the largest methamphetamine seizure in #WV history. The investigation went on for many months, but law enforcement were able to track down many of those involved after receiving many tips. HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Police arrested five people, including some from Detroit, and seized suspected fentanyl after an attempted traffic stop that turned into a pursuit Thursday, according. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet But, New West Virginia health information shows drug overdose deaths have increased to more than 1,000 in a one-year period for the first time.The Charleston, State health data shows West Virginia has seen a record number of fatal overdoses from methamphetamine this year, increasing by 500 percent since 2014.The, Copyright 2023 West Virginia Public Broadcasting, All Rights Reserved, Feds Announce Major Drug Bust, Arrests In West Virginia, Local Band Returns To Music After Almost Two Decades, Largest ever drug bust in state of West Virginia, Feds To Let States Tap Opioid Funds For Meth, Cocaine Surge, West Virginia Drug Overdoses Top 1,000 in 2017, West Virginia Has Record Fatal Meth Overdoses in 2017. Note: An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Not much is known about the situation, but a spokesperson from the FBI confirmed that there was law enforcement activity in the area. Joining Thompson at the press conference Wednesday afternoon was FBI special agent Mike Norwall, someone who was at the front of this investigation. According to the DOJ, the individuals were also charged with distributing large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl in Charleston. Stewart was arrested in July 2021 after officers said Stewart sexually abused and threatened three young children. 300 Virginia Street Police Chief for the Charleston Department Tyke Hunt said since a few dozen people colluded together in dealing with these dangerous drugs. The DOJ charged 30 people with allegedly distributing more than 200 pounds of meth, alongside guns and other drugs, over a period of seven months, dubbing the operation "Operation Smoke and Mirrors." March 22, 2023 / 7:38 PM / AP. Ronald Shaw, 51, of Wheeling, WV (Methamphetamine distribution); Jaron Wells, 36, of Wheeling, WV (Fentanyl distribution); Rocco Pandoli, 34, of Wheeling, WV (Cocaine distribution); Ebony Miranda Webb, 34, of Wheeling (Cocaine distribution); and. Updated: Jan 20, 2023 / 03:14 PM EST. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) Five men, all from out of state, are facing charges after a drug bust in Morgantown Wednesday. Lock things we never got over lucy score summary; randy savage garage cause of death. In a separate 10-count indictment, Shane Kelly Fulkerson, 43, of Saint Albans, West Virginia and Timothy Wayne Dodd, 45, of Charleston, West Virginia, are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Kanawha County from March to September 2021. Not much is known about the situation, but a spokesperson from the FBI confirmed that there was law enforcement activity in the area. What is the Project Safe Neighborhood initiative? West Virginia has a rich musical history, and in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Morgantown-based band The Argument was a proud part of that tradition. WTAP News: Atleast 30 arrested in record breaking drug bust in Parkersburg - YouTube 0:00 / 20:46 WTAP News: Atleast 30 arrested in record breaking drug bust in Parkersburg WTAP Television. BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) A months-long investigation lead to a large drug bust and weapons roundup in Raleigh County. If youre shopping for top products on the market, here are the best 14 products the BestReviews Testing Lab loved in March. A variety of resources for professional growth. More than 40 people were arrested in Huntington this week on drug and gun charges in a sweeping joint investigation targeting accused interstate drug WVPB News Illegal Activity Penalties Considered for Property Owners Browse TV Schedule | Find WVPB Television, Mountain Stage | Classical Music | Eclectopia | Lost Highways. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In addition to the seizure of drugs, agents recovered $295,038 in cash and five firearms. CHARLESTON, W.Va. United States Attorney Will Thompson announced today that a major drug trafficking investigation has resulted in the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history, of well over 200 pounds. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. Thompson said that a federal grand jury returned three indictments charging 30 people for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that dealt large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl in the Charleston area. This investigation demonstrates that we will use all of our resources, including new and innovative investigative techniques, against those who target our communities with this poison. According to DHS, the operation has led to 18 seizures, 16 federal arrests, and two state arrests. Alarmed by a deadly new twist in the nations drug addiction crisis, the government will allow states to use federal money earmarked for the opioid, The small, southern West Virginia town of Kermit has had more than its fair share of national headlines regarding its struggle with the opioid crisis. Marshals Service. The Department of Justice announced Wednesday it made the largest methamphetamine bust in West Virginia history. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. Martinsburg authorities look back on record drug bust. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia, Federal Grand Jury Indicts 30 For Their Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization Operating in Charleston, Drug Trafficking Investigation Yields Largest Methamphetamine Bust in West Virginia History, Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime, Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime. Top,44, of Detroit, Michigan; Michael Wesley, a.k.a. What officials are calling the largest mass arrest of drug offenders in West Virginia history occurred Thursday when 100 people were . A federal drug trafficking investigation in West Virginia has resulted in charges against 54 people and the seizure of more than 200 pounds (91 kilograms) of methamphetamine, authorities said Wednesday. Nominate an Exceptional West Virginia Teacher! MDENT includes the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriffs Office, the Putnam County Sheriffs Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. A drug trafficking network that served as one of the largest suppliers of illicit substances to West Virginia has been dismantled by a federal indictment returned this week against individuals. ), 2:23-cr-33 (Estep et al. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 2023 The Associated Press. Another 24 individuals are charged in state criminal complaints. Juan Carlos Magana, 41, of Sinaloa, Mexico, and Personne Rico McGhee, age 52, of Bellaire, Ohio, were charged Tuesday with conspiring to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The Evergreen State takes the top spot again in the U.S. News Best States ranking on the strength of its tech sector and other industries. Feds Announce Major Drug Bust, Arrests in West Virginia CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A federal drug trafficking investigation in West Virginia has resulted in charges against 54 people and. Subscribe Now Breaking News Nearly 2,000 grams of meth, other drugs seized in Fairmont drug bust. Police said they found about 90 grams of suspected fentanyl, two firearms and more than $8,800 in cash in a car they said was involved in suspected drug activity, according to a news release from. The remaining defendants are scheduled for trial on April 25, 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is representing the government. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriffs Office, the Putnam County Sheriffs Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Its very hard to treat.. Charged in a separate, one-count federal indictment are: Alexandria Jasmine Estep, 21, and Robert Dewayne Miller, 35, both of Charleston; and Perry Johnson, Jr., 29, and Dashounieque Lashay Wright, 26, both of Detroit, Michigan. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A federal drug trafficking investigation in West Virginia has resulted in charges against 54 people and the seizure of more than 200 pounds (91 kilograms) of methamphetamine, authorities said Wednesday. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Officials seized 28 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of fentanyl, 18 guns and $747,000 in cash during the operation, the Justice Department said. 1:03. The arrests today dismantled a drug trafficking network that has wreaked havoc in the Charleston area for far too long. 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