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Press Release

Goodwin Announces 21 Indicted For Selling Pills In Southern West Virginia Crackdown

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia

Anti-pill sweep continues

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that 21 individuals have been indicted for selling powerful prescription painkillers.  The indictments were unsealed following the arrest of each defendant and their subsequent initial appearances in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. 

The charges against each defendant have been brought as a part of the Bluefield Pill Initiative, a concerted attack by federal, state, and local government on the illegal distribution of prescription drugs in the southern region of West Virginia.  The initiative was announced by U.S. Attorney Goodwin in June 2011.

"Prescription drug abuse has ravaged families and communities across the country. Southern West Virginia has seen too many people fall victim to this plague," said U.S. Attorney Goodwin.

Goodwin continued, “This round of prosecutions reaffirms our commitment to the Bluefield Pill Initiative and our resolve to put pill pushers out of business."

The following individuals were indicted:

Carolos Renaldo Ivy, 33, of Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, three counts of distribution of oxycodone and one count of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Aaron O. Gamble, 30, of Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, one count of distribution of oxycodone and one count of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Eric Lee Flack, 34, of Bluefield, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, one count of distribution of oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Ansel William Ponder, 22, of Bluefield, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, one count of distribution of oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Danny Lee Decker, 42, of Mullens, Wyoming County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, two counts of distribution of oxycodone, one count of aiding and abetting the distribution of oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Joni Earlene Rash, 42, of Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, one count of distribution of oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Ralph Ray Cantley, 54, of Matheny, Wyoming County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, one count of using a telephone to commit a drug crime and one count of maintaining a place for the purpose of distributing and using oxycodone;

Kathy Burchett, 38, Welch, McDowell County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Elizabeth Ann Stewart, 30, 0f Matheny, Wyoming County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and one count of oxycodone;

Tonya Lynn Goode, 35, Matheny, Wyoming County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and one count of distribution of oxycodone;

Anthony Lee Madison, 23, of Bluefield, Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Edgar Junior Ponce, 32, of Oceana, Wyoming County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Laken Nicole Myers, 25, of Welch, McDowell County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Randall Ray Parks, 51, of Welch, McDowell County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Lori Megan Falls, 29, of Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and two counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Eric M. Tiller, 41, of Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and three counts of using a telephone to commit a drug crime;

Matthew M. Pigg, 27, of Montcalm, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with possession with intent to distribute hydromorphone, a powerful prescription painkiller commonly known as Dilaudid; 

Jennifer Marie Farley, 29, of Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with three counts of distribution of hydromorphone;

Kevin Eugene Petty, 36, of Bluefield, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with three counts of distribution of hydromorphone;

Rickey David Coburn, II, 26, of Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute hydromorphone and five counts of distribution of hydromorphone;

Lakeisha Danell Howze, 27, of Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va., was charged with conspiracy to distribute hydromorphone and distribution of hydromorphone. 

An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The Bluefield Pill Initiative is a collaborative, multi-agency regional law enforcement effort designed to halt prescription drug trafficking specifically in Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming counties.  The Bluefield Pill Initiative is led by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force which is made up of the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Sheriffs’ Departments of Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming County, as well as the Bluefield and Princeton Police Departments. 

Click on the links below to view the copies of the indictments:

Indictment 1

Indictment 2

Indictment 3

Indictment 4

Indictment 5

Updated January 7, 2015