A new law enforcement group — a
cooperative effort made up of local, state and federal officials — has already
started its work in part of West
Virginia
Members of the Mountain Region Drug
and Violent Crime Task Force are focusing on the investigation and
prosecution of drug trafficking crimes in Randolph, Tucker and Pocahontas
counties.
“It’s really a great day for law
enforcement in this region because this area has never had a unit quite like
this one that’s going to come together, share intelligence, share resources and
go after drug trafficking organizations,” said Bill Ihlenfeld, U.S. Attorney
for West Virginia’s Northern District.
“We see drugs from Detroit
and Pittsburgh and Baltimore
Ihlenfeld joined other county-level
prosecutors and law enforcement officers in both Elkins and Parsons on a
snowy Monday to formally announce the task force which was first created last
fall, but is only going public now following federal indictments last week
which are tied to the task force’s investigations.
“What’s unique and important about
this group is that it brings together, like we see in some other parts of the
district, federal, state and local agencies all coming together to fight the
common fight against drug trafficking organizations,” Ihlenfeld said.
The following people were indicted
last week and many were already in police custody by Monday:
- Robert Franklin Davis, II, 35, of
Buckhannon who is charged with 35 counts related to meth manufacturing
- Brandon Michael Beeson, 27, of
Elkins who is charged with 20 counts related to meth manufacturing
- Jamie Nicole Chidester, 25, of
Buckhannon who is charged with 16 counts related to meth manufacturing
- Chad Preston, 34, of Elkins who
is charged with distribution of hydrocodone and cocaine and possession with
intent to distribute oxycodone
- Keith Poteete, 48, of Elkins who
is charged with three counts of distribution of buprenorphine and one count each
of distribution of hydrocodone, distribution of cocaine and maintaining a
drug-involved premise
- Jason Dwight Mackenzie, 32, of
Elkins who is charged with one count of distribution of buprenorphine
- Jonathan Healey, 30, of Beverly
who is charged with three counts of distribution of buprenorphine, one count of
aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine and one count of the use of a
communication device to facilitate a drug felony
- John A. Boyles, 30, of Kerens who
is charged with a count of distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of
possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine
- Arica M. Boyles, 26, of Kerens
who is charged with one count of distribution of crack cocaine and two counts
of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine
The Mountain Region Drug and
Violent Crime Task Force does operate a 24/7 hotline so community members can
share information about drug activity at 304-636-TIPS (8477).
In addition to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating
agencies include the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, State Police, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, the
Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Tucker County Sheriff’s
Department, the Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Pocahontas
County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
