At least fifteen federal drug indictments have been secured since the beginning of the year thanks to an unassuming but very effective task force in rural West Virginia. U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld introduced the task force in late January after it had already been working for several weeks to shut down known drug activity in Pocahontas, Randolph, and Tucker counties. Ihlenfeld stated that more arrests are expected over the next several days and weeks, and that there are a number of individuals who have already been named in drug indictments from last week that are as yet sealed.

According to Ihlenfeld, a “memorandum of understanding” was executed in late 2013 regarding the task force, but the board decided to wait until the task force had begun making indictments before it informed the public about its existence and activities. The reason for the delay is that several individuals and groups were already under investigation, and task force officials didn’t want to jeopardize those cases by going public too early.

One of the most important cases involved a 67-count indictment in which three individuals were charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, and details how those individuals allegedly shopped for the ingredients to concoct their drugs. Six more individuals have also been identified in separate cases and charged with distribution of hydrocodone, cocaine, crack, and oxycodone, among other drugs. Ihlenfeld has declared that the task force is just getting started in its efforts to rid counties in rural West Virginia of dangerous and illegal street drugs.

The task force includes members of several law enforcement agencies including county sheriffs and prosecutors in the three aforementioned counties, the West Virginia State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Members of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are also assisting in the task force efforts on a case-by-case basis.

Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.

If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-315-7441, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.