Tag: Drug Trafficking

W.Va. Senate OKs Raising Drug Trafficking Penalty

The West Virginia Senate has passed a bill to increase the penalty for transporting narcotics into West Virginia.
 
The bill increases prison time from 1 year or more to up to 15 years. The bill states that individuals convicted of the felony charge may be fined up to $25,000.
 
Sen. Clark Barnes asked Monday if the bill would include pseudoephedrine if the Senate bill to make Sudafed-like drugs prescription only passes in the House.
 
Sen. Corey Palumbo said the bill is aimed at addressing heroin issues in border states.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved an amendment to exclude pseudoephedrine and the bill was passed unanimously.
 
The bill will move to the House.
 

Fifteen Indicted in W.Va. on Painkiller Charges

Federal prosecutors say 15 people have been charged with distributing tens of thousands of prescription painkillers in the Ohio Valley area of West Virginia.
 
     U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II announced the unsealing of an 83-count indictment on Monday. It alleges the powerful painkiller oxycodone and other prescription drugs were funneled into West Virginia from northern Ohio and Detroit.
 
     The government identified the lead defendant as Brian Schultz, a 37-year-old Triadelphia man. He was charged with conspiracy counts involving distribution of controlled substances and interstate travel in aid of racketeering, among other charges.
 
     The U.S. attorney’s office says it is seeking the forfeiture of possessions owned by Schultz and a money judgment against him and others totaling $450,000.
 
     No one answered at a phone listing for Schultz in Triadelphia.
 

Trial Begins for Man Accused of War Mayor's Murder

The trial of a Virginia man charged with killing the mayor of War is underway in McDowell County Circuit Court.The defendant is 28-year-old Earl Click of…

The trial of a Virginia man charged with killing the mayor of War is underway in McDowell County Circuit Court.

The defendant is 28-year-old Earl Click of Grundy, Va.

Click is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 72-year-old War Mayor Thomas Hatcher.

 
City workers found Hatcher’s body in his home on July 17, 2012.

 
Click’s sister and co-defendant, 32-year-old Rebecca Hatcher, was acquitted of a murder charge in November. Judge Rudolph J. Murensky II declared a mistrial on a conspiracy charge. A retrial is scheduled next month.

Rebecca Hatcher was the mayor’s daughter-in-law.
 

Task Force in Northern West Virginia Targets Drug Trafficking

Law enforcement agencies in Northern West Virginia are working together to combat drug trafficking.
 
     Local, state and federal authorities announced the creation of the Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force on Monday during a news conference in Elkins.
 
     U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II says the task force began work in 2013. But its formation wasn’t announced until Monday due to ongoing investigations.

“Last year, the state set a record of the number of meth labs that were busted by law enforcement. We see a lot of meth. But in this region, we also see a large amount of prescription pain killer abuse,” said Ihlenfeld.

The task force’s work has led to the indictments of nine people on federal drug charges last week. Six people indicted in August 2013 are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to federal drug charges.
 
     Another investigation led to the conviction of a man accused of stealing prescription painkillers from a pharmacy in Parsons in 2013.

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