South Charleston Man, Eric Wiseman Sentenced for Federal Drug Crime

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.”


26 charged in a drug conspiracy involving heroin, fentanyl, “crack” cocaine, and meth in Wheeling

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.


Ohio man pleads guilty to role in Ohio-to-West Virginia meth conspiracy

An Ohio man pleaded guilty Dec. 2 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. 

Marquis Allen Pritchett, 22, of Akron pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. 


Ohio man charged in high school students’ overdose of heroin-laced vape pens

(FOX) — An Ohio man was arrested in West Virginia Thursday after heroin-laced vape pens sent two high school students to the hospital in a 24-hour period, police said.

Tristan Anderson, 23, of Bolivar, Ohio, has been charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, the Morgantown Police Department said in a news release cited by WBOY.

Anderson was pulled over in Morgantown, about 150 miles southeast of Bolivar, around 6 p.m. Wednesday, police said.


Search of Raleigh County, WV, residence leads to arrests, seizure of heroin, fentanyl mixture

Two people were arrested and a mixture of heroin and fentanyl was among items seized as a result of a search of a Raleigh County residence over the weekend.

According to a press release from the county sheriff's office, the search was conducted by members of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Officers executed a search warrant at a residence at 118 Main Street in Sophia. The search was a result of an ongoing investigation, deputies said.


Three men are arrested on drug charges in Huntington

HUNTINGTON - Three men, two from Akron, Ohio, were arrested Thursday afternoon by the Huntington Violent Crimes Drug Task Force on drug distribution charges.

James Elijah Ladrew Clark, 26, and Robert Von Wilson, 23, both of Akron, were each charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Edwin Lamar Prude, 28, of Huntington, was also charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver along with one count of obstruction.


Nearly 60 indicted in Raleigh County, WV, as result of drug task force investigations

BECKLEY — As a result of investigative efforts by an area drug task force, nearly 60 people were recently indicted in Raleigh County.

The Beckley Police Department announced the indictments Monday. The Beckley Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is made up of members of the department as well as members of the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office and West Virginia State Police.

Those indicted had been involved in drug trafficking operations in and around the area of Beckley and Raleigh County, according to a release from the police department.


HOPE Clinic Physician Sentenced for Money Laundering Conspiracy

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that a HOPE Clinic physician, Dr. John Pellegrini, D.O., 64, of Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 87 months imprisonment for conspiracy to launder money. Pellegrini was also ordered to forfeit $574,507 to the United States, as that amount represents the proceeds of his offense. Stuart praised the investigation conducted by the U.S.


Federal prosecutors report dismantling of major drug ring distributing in Parkersburg

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Thirty people are facing charges after a multi-state investigation into drug trafficking. Investigators say it is the largest seizure of methamphetamine in West Virginia history.

United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced "PROJECT PARKERSBURG" during a press conference Thursday. Investigators dismantled a drug trafficking organization that spanned several states.

Seventeen people are charged in a federal indictment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.


Large drug operation takes down 17 in Mon County; 4 in Detroit

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — 17 people were arrested locally and four in Detroit as part of Operation Lion’s Den, a multistate investigation with federal, state and local law enforcement that targeted the Maurice Swift drug organization.

Dewayne Haddix, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) made the announcement at a Wednesday press conference at the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department.