Ohio and Pennsylvania men sentenced for cocaine trafficking

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jermell Simpson, 31, of Columbus, Ohio, and Mario Walton, 33, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were sentenced today for distributing crack cocaine, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.

Walton was sentenced today to 30 months in prison with credit for time served since July 2014. An investigation by the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, revealed that he sold crack cocaine in July 2014 near Bridgeport, West Virginia. He pled guilty in October 2014 to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base, Aiding and Abetting.”

Simpson was sentenced today to 46 months in prison. An investigation by the Mon Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force revealed that he sold crack cocaine in Monongalia County, West Virginia. He pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.