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 from Ohio, California, and Mexico.

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) – On January 17, 2023, the Beckley Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit seized nearly $90,000 in drugs and guns after a pair of arrests.

Two suspects are still on the loose.

Assisted by Special Response Teams from both the WV State Police and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, the Beckley Raleigh-County Drug and Violent Crime Unit made three search warrants at Willbrian Apartments located at 510 Ewart Avenue in Beckley and a search warrant at a home in the 6000 Block of Robert C. Byrd Drive in Bradley.

WHEELING, W.Va. (WV News) — A federal grand jury has returned indictments against alleged large-scale dealers of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine operating in Ohio County, according to U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld.

Solomon Watters, 26, of Cleveland, was indicted for conspiring to distribute over 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl in Ohio County and elsewhere, according to Ihlenfeld.

Investigators seized $212,000 in cash from Watters and his co-conspirator, Chelsea Banks, 26, of Wheeling, along with three guns, Ihlenfeld said.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Eleven people, mostly from the Detroit, Michigan area are facing federal indictments alleging they transported large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine into the Morgantown area.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Bernard said at a Wednesday news conference that nine of the suspects are in custody, two Michigan residents remain at-large.

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Antonio Buzzo, of Maidsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 months of incarceration for a drug charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.

Buzzo, 28, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl.” Buzzo admitted to selling fentanyl in January 2020 in Monongalia County.

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — A federal jury in Clarksburg deliberated two hours Wednesday before convicting a 28-year-old Georgia man of helping his half brother dispose of a West Virginia overdose victim’s dismembered body in an Atlanta-area landfill.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Brandon Quane Hudson, 36, of Macon, Georgia was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, also known as crack, and methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Hudson will serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Columbus, Ohio man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Rashawn Akmed Miller, 37, was one of 14 defendants charged as a result of a long-term investigation known as “Second Wave,” which dismantled a poly-drug network operating in Kanawha and Fayette counties.

Charleston, W.V - United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that Eric Wiseman, 40, of South Charleston, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for attempting to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.

“This was a lot of marijuana,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.”

WHEELING, WVa. – Residents of multiple states were arrested today after being charged in a 50-count indictment involving a drug conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced today in a press release.

The indictment charges 26 people in a drug distribution operation that sold cocaine base, also known as “crack,” heroin, methamphetamine, including “ice,” and fentanyl in Ohio County and elsewhere from February 2019 to August 2020.