Updated: Feb 9, 2023 / 02:18 PM EST WHEELING, W.Va. (WBOY) A major drug bust in Wheeling should impact the flow of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine into Morgantown, Fairmont and Clarksburg, according to federal prosecutors. Get the Jackson Star & Herald Delivered to your email everyday! Were standing out there with a couple of uniformed troopers and cars just keep going up, said Ciccarelli. Be Nice. Chance of rain 90%. A grand jury charged 39 co-conspirators with 106 counts for their involvement in an alleged drug trafficking conspiracy that began in March 2016, according to the indictment. "That is a snapshot, one day in the time of this case … so that tells you that over the whole year of the investigation the breadth of this conspiracy and this illegal enterprise," Bernard said. The investigation also led to takedowns in California, Missouri, Ohio, New England and New York. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Ihlenfeld said with the arrests, the individuals range from small positions in the drug world to high positions. These junkies would forge prescriptions, and back in the pre-computer days I can remember standing in pharmacies going through prescriptions going, thats a junkie, thats a junkie, these are false scripts, said Ciccarelli, who has since died, in 2017. Man arrested in drug bust believed to be biggest in Keyser history. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. More than 120 law enforcement officers from 30 law enforcement agencies in Virginia, North Carolina and Texas executed the three-day targeted arrest operation dubbed Operation Cookout. Error! Published June 22, 2021 4:25 a.m. PDT Share TORONTO - Twenty people are facing rafts of charges each and more than $61 million worth of cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana was seized in what. James Wooley got so little business at his drugstore in the village of Kermit in the early 2000s that he also ran a used car business next door. I tried to use the wire fraud to get everybody, the pharmacies and the doctors. Updated The doctors were careful to insist their prescriptions were filled only at pharmacies that would take the money and not ask questions. Low 34F. Those days are over, Stuart said. Robert Hott, 30, charged with federal counts of conspiracy to possession with intent to deliver and to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a protected location. series identifies 13 of city's top drug dealers; dealers listed as: Joseph DiPalermo, Charles DiPalermo, Virgil Alessi, Ralph Tutino, Leroy Barnes, James Lofton, Frank Lucas, Steven Monsanto . OK, lets see. They shipped more narcotic painkillers to Mingo county per head of population than to any other place in the US. Federal prosecutors charged him with making millions of dollars from illegally supplying opioids alongside Anthony Rattini, the former president of Ballengees major suppliers, Miami-Luken, and others. High 74F. The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia. West Virginias medical regulators missed opportunities too. Martinsburg authorities look back on record drug bust. . Nearly 50 people are now being charged after a year-long investigation focused in Duluth, Rochester, and on the Iron . He saw no red flags even as the prescriptions poured in by fax and phone. Weather Alerts. Operation Tranquilandia was led by the DEA in 1984. Were not seeing meth labs here much anymore, he said, to which Bruce added, Fentanyl is the big issue now.. But Smith quickly discovered that users were happy to tell him where he could find doctors to write prescriptions and drug stores to fill them no questions asked. The giveaway was the drive-thru window, and the cars lined up past the abandoned ghost shops in downtown Williamson, West Virginia. WVU faculty weigh in on aftermath of chemical spill, Clay County native honored by FBI for accomplishments as Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chocolate chemistry explained by a food scientist, Sweets with a Swiss twist for Valentine's Day, Ask an expert: 7 most common questions about automatic home generators, One A Day: Small Daily Acts of Self-Care Go a Long Way to Health. In 2001, the West Virginia bureau of criminal investigation sent Smith to investigate a surge of opioids pills on the streets. April 17, 2018 10:15 AM PT. Four suspects named in the indictment remain at large: Jennifer Bing, Parris McMillan, Mark David and Travis Walters, Terwilliger said. Authorities estimate the value of the drugs at $8.5 million. No one should have to be in that situations. The investigation involved federal, state and local law enforcement agencies includingthe Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force; the Berkeley and Jefferson County sheriff's offices; the Martinsburg, Charles Town, Ranson and Hagerstown police departments;the Washington County Drug Task Force; West Virginia and Maryland state police; the FBI; the U.S. racist or sexually-oriented language. According to the sheriffs office, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorneys office assisted in nabbing $6.5 million in drugs, guns and cash linked to Mexicos notorious Sinaloa Cartel. VIPIR Virginia Weather Radar. Reach Joel Ebert at joel.ebert@dailymailwv.com 304-348-4843 or joel.ebert@dailymailwv.com or follow @joelebert29 on Twitter. & $600,000 seized in drug bust. JACKSON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Dozens of people have been arrested in a large scale drug warrant sweep that is underway in Jackson County, West Virginia . I came from Point Pleasant. Ciccarelli had come from pursuing Colombian cartels in Florida, but he already knew West Virginia well from working the drug beat as a police officer in the early 1980s. The people who were indicted include: You passed about three hospitals, probably 50 pharmacies, and youre driving 100 miles from Point Pleasant to Kermit to pick up a prescription? An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. This week's most popular news from around the State. Don't Miss it! Harrah said Fayette Countys drug problem, which he called the top priority of the county, affects everything from insurance rates to crime. Investigators discovered the pharmacies lined up bottles pre-filled with set amounts of pills. The policeman said it fell under the definition of wire fraud. Senate swiftly passes 'Equal Protection for Religion Act'. According to a news release from the drug task force that was sent out Thursday morning, investigators spent the majority of this summer identifying criminal suspects allegedly involved in the sale and distribution of numerous controlled substances, including heroin, methamphetamine and prescription pills, in central West Virginia. Copyright 2023 West Virginia MetroNews Network. As a landmark federal opioid trial nears completion, West Virginia communities are demanding $2.5 billion in compensation. Thats really the design by nature, its the proverbial line in the sand moving forward. What you need to know for today! Reporting from CHARLESTON, W.Va. . But as word spread and people came from hundreds of miles around, so the drugstores struggled to meet demand. Millions more were shipped to another pharmacy, Hurleys Drug Store, four blocks away. 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According to the sheriffs office, investigators seized 50 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of heroin, six pounds of marijuana, 150 grams of crack cocaine, 100 fentanyl pills, seven firearms including one assault rifle, and $1.4 million in cash in Loudoun County. The value was. The arrests, which . Low near 55F. Four people from Fairmont were taken into custody with the operation. Richard Montgomery High School student accused of robbing Shell gas station at knifepoint. The pharmacist persuaded his assistant at the drugstore, Debra Justice, to set up a medical clinic just outside Kermit and they recruited a doctor more than an hour away at Marshall Universitys medical school, Dr John Tiano. JCSO officials say "Operation Centennial Sweep" totaled 113 warrants for drugs involving methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, prescription narcotics, and marijuana. Ballengee testified in earlier civil depositions that he was filling between 150 and 200 opioid prescriptions a day from the Wellness clinic alone, but claimed to see no reason for suspicion. Unfortunately with his views he will probably be taken in by Aryan Nation, DMI, or some other club for insecure underdeveloped white folks. In December, Easton admitted to selling. Jackie Devon Thompson, 41, of Frederick, Md. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Hurley Drug was dispensing nearly as fast. Daily News, Sports and Events from The ET. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. The charges for those arrested include distribution of controlled substances and conspiracy. Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as Papi, 48, of the Dominican Republic, is one of 34 people indicted by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of West Virginia on charges stemming froma multi-state drug operation, according to Randolph J. Bernard, the district's acting U.S. attorney. Oh, we were aware. Get the River Cities Tribune & Register Delivered to your email everyday! In some cases, the defendants face penalties of five to 40 years in prison, 20 years in prison and 10 years to life, Bernard said. BRIDGEPORT In a collaborative effort from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, more than 80 people have been charged in one of the biggest drug busts in North Central West. Officers then searched the vehicle and found several grams of methamphetamine and drug-using instruments. Huntington is a safer city today, but we continue to be vigilant.. Europe and others push for a standard lunar time zone, Dr. Simi is a TikTok star. It wasnt long before drug distribution companies, some of the largest firms in America among them, were delivering millions of opioid pills a year to Tug Valley. 2023 FOX Television Stations, NFL owners to discuss Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder at upcoming meeting: AP source, Elderly couple dead in possible murder-suicide in Fairfax County: police, Southeast triple shooting suspect identified by police, Wreckage of US Navy submarine from World War II found off Japans coast, Police identify alleged shoplifter shot, killed by police outside Tysons Corner Center, Porsche carjacked at gunpoint in Dupont Circle: DC Police. Justin Byrd, 28, charged with a state misdemeanor count of possession heroin. Click here to stay informed and subscribe to the Mountain States Trusted News Source. In addition to Mota, the news release listed those indicted in connection with the alleged operation as: All but 11 of the defendants had been arrested as of Wednesday. High 78F. The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office announced late Friday afternoon the indictments of 79 people and the seizure of nearly $6 million in drugs in what they're calling the county's largest. At least one suspect ordered fentanyl from a vendor in Shanghai that was successfully mailed through US Postal Service to Newport News, Virginia, according to the indictment. Nelson County's Commonwealth's Attorney Daniel Rutherford said this comes from a . All rights reserved. Sign up to receive our daily newsletter about all things business and politics in West Virginia. Ellifritz, who previously worked in the Keyser Police Department, added that he definitely believes Its the biggest in the city of Keyser with all the combined drugs.. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription. Derrick Hamlet, 27, of Morgantown West Virginia Giovanni George, 32, of Taylor, Michigan, and Kenneth Jones, 27, of Detroit, Michigan, remain at large. Courrier. Daily news from the Mineral News & Tribune delivered to your email! Gross sales surged above $6.5m. Published: Nov. 28, 2019 at 3:23 AM PST. "The operation in this case, I think it's fair to say, dealt with millions of dollars of drugs and proceeds," he said. People came from hundreds of miles around to buy the powerful drugs from pharmacies linked to pill mills where compliant doctors prescribed indiscriminately. On Oct. 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped a truck crossing from Mexico into the United States at San Diego's Otay . On Tuesday, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Rachel Romano and Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker announced that 87 individuals have been arrested with 78 arrests happening Tuesday all in connection to drug possession, distribution and trafficking in North Central West Virginia. Marshals Service and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were among the agencies involved in the mass arrest, as well as the West Virginia State Police, Summersville Police Department, Nicholas County Sheriffs Department, Richwood Police Department, Fayette County Sheriffs Department, Fayetteville Police Department, Oak Hill Police Department, Mount Hope Police Department and the Montgomery Police Department. You have permission to edit this article. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Don't Miss it! 2. If federal regulators had intervened to limit prescribing of high-strength opioids to those who really needed them, there would have been far fewer pills on the streets. It was a profound stop and seizure of extremely hard drugs that have plagued this area and others, according to Martinsburg Police Chief George Swartwood. Weekly email alert sent every Tuesday and Friday afternoon for Preston County! In 2016, a major drug distributor, McKesson abruptly ended its contract with Tug Valley Pharmacy when West Virginias attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, filed a lawsuit against the company accusing it of recklessly distribution millions of pills across the state. Be Proactive. You know how it is: if I can make a million, I can make two.. Choose wisely! When officers stopped the vehicle, they could smell the odor of marijuana. Don't knowingly lie about anyone As of Thursday afternoon, 90 of the 100 people law enforcement officials were seeking had been rounded up, said Fayette County Prosecutor Larry Harrah. Stuart said this was the largest meth bust in West Virginia history. That is a huge amount of drugs. Special offers from businesses around your area. John Ingram Police say the two men were arrested for the felony offense of possession with the intent to deliver fentanyl and possession of fentanyl. Murphy told CNN affiliate WSB that it is by far the biggest heroin seizure in Georgia's . "Drug traffickers don't work nine-to-five hours, so the people investigating this case have to work 24-seven, and this team worked for approximately a year investigating this case," he said. Rattini is accused of distributing narcotic painkillers illegally to more than 200 pharmacies across West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. WV's largest drug bust underway Joel Ebert Aug 27, 2015 Nationally-Recognized, Quality Local Journalism.. Click here to stay informed and subscribe to the Mountain State's Trusted News Source.. I hope I am wrong about what happens to him now even if he was clearly asking for it. Tug Valley Pharmacy was late to the gold rush, but swiftly made up for lost time. He will become radicalized and when/if he gets out he will be a bigger threat than ever. Four different education bills were voted on in both chambers. To the watching investigators, the stone building with a peaked red roof looked more like a rural cabin than a fount for the millions of opioid pills spilling across Appalachia. Copen, Samuel Bo Copen, Jesse Copen, Sandy Copen, Nikki Copen, Stacy Williams, Brandon Carpenter, Debbie Wright, Jessica Ward, Karrisa Griffith, Terry Lewis, Sammy Kesterson, Brenda Gray, Janet McKinney, T.J. Sweet, Belinda Seabolt, Warren Ryder, Mandy Hinkle, Rick Wright, Chris Harris, Kelly Potter, Stacy Hanshaw, Sandra Cartwright, Earl Taylor, Witley Cogar, Dave Lawrence, Misty Russell, Sam Griffith, Chris Redden, Coy Gwinn, Randy Tinney, Matt Shaffer, Charlie Thomas, Miranda Puckett, n Summersville area: Brittany Potter, Jason Dancy, Bart Legg, Crystal Cook, Mark Grose, J.R. Ellison, n Craigsville area: Danny Holmes, Jason Johnson, Rick Meadows, John Hall,Nikki Myers, Candice Bess, Amber Farley, Stacey Bays, Candy Dillard, Tim Wright, Andy Rose, n Birch River area: Donna Gregory, Rebecca Morris, John Criss, Pat Dillion, n Mount Nebo/Ennon areas: Andrew Haas, Matt Lipps, Edward Stricker, Eddie Hughes, n Ansted/Fayetteville/Oak Hill/Mount Hope areas: Zach Hodge, Andy Walton, Watrina Jackson, Patty Adkins, Jackie Young, Chelsie Adkins, Christa Smith, William Smith, Austin Smith, Jericho Wriston, Shannon ODell, Jerome Comer, Michael Stanley, Michael Payne, Marcus Brisco, Keri Jacobowski, Trisha McMillan, Aaron Pack, Travis Hopkins, Jareth Myers, n Gauley Bridge/Smithers/Montgomery/Powellton/WV Route 61 areas: Michael Schoolcraft, Eddie Young, Joey Given, Yvonne Legg, Speedy Legg, George Leake III, Jeff Evans, Eric Perez, Cameron Cochron, Rayshawn Payne, Shawn Patton, Bubby Fragale, Barry Mitchell, Kevin Smith. Before long, people in town were calling the Williamson Wellness Center a pill mill. RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Almost 300 lbs. And there are big lines from the first day, said Smith. Under oath, Wooley said he didnt remember ever seeing articles in trade magazines warning about escalating opioid addiction, or patients going from one doctor to another in search of multiple prescriptions. Though West Virginia has had boom-and-bust cycles since, Census Bureau data shows it has lost population every year since 2012 and now has about 1.8 million residents. Cabell County, which includes Huntington, has been hit especially hard. Published: Jan. 13, 2021 at 9:55 AM PST. Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Bernard saidMota is accused of using hisbusiness, Top 3 Sources on West Washington Street, to store and sell drugs and launder the proceeds. While authorities were still searching for the remaining suspects identified in the investigation as of Thursday afternoon, Calhoun and Harrah were confident they would be found. Where are you from? "And we introduced law . Keep it Clean. Our culture is so messed up. On his release, Abad was deported to his home country, the Philippines, where he continues to practise. highways in biggest drug bust in Broome's history Ihlenfeld said warrants were executed for charges including the possession and distribution of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine. Sheriff Mellinger said their target list had 113 names, with outstanding warrants, on it and their goal was to cross all the of them out with a two-day operation. In 2009 alone, Ballengee ordered 3m hydrocodone pills. Under Trump, the jobs boom . Day one certainly exceeded expectations, said Jackson County Sheriff Ross Mellinger. Eventually, the FBI and state police moved in on the Sav-Rite in Kermit in 2009, arresting Wooley. Ellifrtiz said the confiscated drugs definitely came from out of the area and were not manufactured locally. The roundup, dubbed Operation Mountain Justice, was executed by the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, in coordination with the prosecuting attorneys of Fayette and Nicholas counties, as well as several local and federal law enforcement agencies. It sends a message that local, state and federal authorities are always hard at work trying to bring the perpetrators to justice, he said. Invalid password or account does not exist. You have to do an investigation before you can stop something like that. The bust resulted in a confiscation of 10 tons of cocaine, which was worth around $1.2 billion at the time. Wooley decided to follow the Williamson model by setting up a doctor to churn out opioid prescriptions for him to fill. People said nothings being done.. A lot of times there will be property crimes and gun crimes (too) but its all inter-related and sometimes the gun crimes and property crimes will be secondary nature to the underlying drug investigation.. . The campaign which was conducted under the banner of Operation Angels Envy - reportedly began in 2017, and concluded in February 2020. Bruce said Eversole was arrested without incident during the bust and was transported to the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail in Augusta. It shows that were trying to address the problem, he said, noting that authorities wont simply sit back on their hands once their work is gone from the headlines. Discovery Company. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. I was blown away. He is now awaiting trial. Shorty wanted to be a "Thug". He said 30 arrests were made as of midday Tuesday in the states second-largest city. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. The arrests were part of the Project Huntington initiative Stuart announced on March 15 to involve more federal prosecutors in a crackdown on gun and violent crime and drug trafficking in Huntington. Still at largewere Mota, Luna, Rodriguez, Longus, Rose,Orrillio,Velasquez-Lopez,Pinkcett, Gregory, Brown and Nunez-Arias, authorities said. The longest drug-smuggling tunnel ever was discovered on April 20, 2016, spanning the U.S.-Mexico border. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Spring fire season means fire burning guidelines. READ MORE: Virginia massage therapist arrested for sexual battery while on the job. Sign up for . Zombie drug seen in Cabell Co. Kanawha County man has been missing for 7 years, Man wanted for pointing handgun at person, Some parts of Columbus Zoo are getting upgrades, I-64E reopens after tractor-trailer crash in Cabell, JB McCuskey launches run for West Virginia Governor, Applications open to participate in Hillbilly Days, Waverly man arrested for abducting person with firearm, $409K to be used for affordable housing in WV, The New StormTracker 13 VIPIR Real Time Radar, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. JACKSON COUNTY, WV (WOWK) The Jackson County Sheriffs Office is leading the single largest drug investigation warrant sweeps in West Virginias history. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $410,016 in cash, six vehicles and a .22-caliber revolver and ammunition. KEYSER, W.Va. (WV News) A Keyser man remains jailed after being arrested earlier this month in what law enforcement officials believe is the largest drug bust in Keyser history. Daily News, Sports and Events for Garrett County and surrounding areas. What officials are calling the largest mass arrest of drug offenders in West Virginia history occurred Thursday when 100 people were targeted for reportedly committing more than 300 drug offenses. Each day, hundreds of people lined up outside an old animal feed store where a group of doctors were set up by a former pimp, just out of federal prison for running a gay prostitution ring in Washington DC, to churn out opioid prescriptions faster than West Virginias major hospitals. We won't share it with anyone else. Daily News, Sports and Events for Weston and Surrounding areas. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet Some suspects switched phones regularly and used prepaid cell phones that did not need a subscribers name. Police chief: Oak Hill drug bust biggest in 19 years. Updated: Mar 19, 2021 / 02:47 PM EDT BOONE COUNTY, WV (WOWK)According to the Boone County Sheriff's Office, deputies executed a search warrant at a residence along Hendrick's Drive in Keith and arrested 54-year-old Paul Thomas "Paulie" Lombardi from Orgas, West Virginia on Thursday. Sign up for the only WV Government and Business newsletter delivered each week! The investigation is ongoing at this time. On Thursday, law enforcement agencies executed the second part of the operation now leaving over 100 people arrested. Its definitely the biggest Ive seen, Chief Bruce said. Covid-19 could be making things worse. Use the 'Report' link on Ive been here since 1986, and this is the most narcotics Ive seen in a bust, Sheriff Ellifritz told the News & Tribune. The Justice Medical Complex opened in the spring of 2005, a 10-minute drive from Kermit. It boggles my mind, said Sparks, the mayor. The operation was a joint effort between the Jackson County Sheriffs Department, Ravenswood Police Department, Ripley Police Department, U.S. He will be sentenced in July. While this mass-arrest initiative is certainly a step in the right direction, we are well aware that countless additional individuals remained involved in the sale and distribution of narcotics in our respective counties.. The city of 48,000 residents along the Ohio River had a record 19 homicides last year, up from three in 2015. The suspects attempted to thwart law enforcement surveillance using Facebook, and encrypted communications apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp, according to the indictment. Create a password that only you will remember. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. $18 million, Antioch, Calif. One California raid in 2014 remains one of the biggest drug busts the U.S. has ever seen. Weekly Fairmont news emailed every Thursday evening! According to the sheriff's office, investigators seized 50 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of heroin, six pounds of marijuana, 150 grams of crack cocaine, 100 fentanyl. Suddenly Tug Valley opens, out of the blue, in 2006. Low 54F. U.S. Atty. Officers seized 24 firearms, 30 kilograms of heroin, 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than $700,000 in cash along with 30 kilograms of fentanyl, according to a press release from the US attorneys office. Something similar was going on at the Tug Valley Pharmacy and Hurleys in Williamson. Sign up to get our statewide obits delivered to your inbox daily. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. The alleged drug trafficking ring is an example of fentanyl coming to the US from China, said US Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia. Clear skies. In the evening hours of April 27th. 2021, the Eastern Panhandle Drugs & Violent Crimes Task Force and the Martinsburg City Police Department Detective Unit and Uniformed Patrol Division, were involved in a combined effort investigation which resulted in a traffic stop of a vehicle on South Queen Street. Today's Outlook. Its things like that you can put in front of a jury and theyre going to go, that aint right. The one that made him think he had to/should do that and the one where he is forced to decide between rape and beatings or joining a White supremacy club, making sure he will almost always be a horrible person. Dozens of people were arrested Tuesday in a major drug trafficking sweep in Huntington, W.Va., a city hit hard by the opioid . Weston and surrounding areas the U.S. has ever seen the top priority of the operation leaving... The blue, in 2006 410,016 in cash, six vehicles and a.22-caliber revolver and ammunition him to.! 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