1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

June 9, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nineteen Indicted on Federal Drug Charges

 

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that 17 arrests were made on charges contained in a Superseding Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury.

According to USA Ihlenfeld, the Superseding Indictment alleges that the defendants were involved in a large conspiracy to distribute prescription pain medication, including Oxycodone, throughout the Ohio Valley from February 2010 to March 26, 2011. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants allegedly engaged in “doctor shopping” in Daytona Beach, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Rock Hill, South Carolina, by going to doctors in those cities and claiming medical maladies and then requesting and obtaining pain pills, primarily Oxycodone. In addition to the distribution of prescription medications, it is also alleged that other controlled substances were distributed by several of the defendants. The Superseding Indictment alleges that in furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendants and others distributed at least 100,000 pills with an illegal street value in excess of $3,000,000.

The 32-count Superseding Indictment charges 19 defendants with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to engage in interstate travel in aid of racketeering; two counts of aiding and abetting interstate travel in aid of racketeering; conspiracy to launder money; four counts of money laundering; four counts of using the telephone to distribute drugs; two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity; 13 distribution counts – one within 1,000 feet of a playground which doubles the penalty; three counts of possession with intent to distribute; and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premise.

Thus far, of the 19 defendants, 15 were arrested this morning, two were arrested previously and are in custody, and agents are still looking for two defendants.

The names of those arrested are: KRISTEN ANDERSON, age 23, of Moundsville, West Virginia; RICHARD DONNELLY, also known as “BUBBA”; GEORGANN DZIRONEY, age 36, of Moundsville, West Virginia; JENNIFER JOHNSON, also known as “JJ,” age 34; JOSH MONTGOMERY, also known as “DIDDLE,” age 24, of Moundsville, West Virginia; ROBYN JONES, age 23, of Kissimmee, Florida; JENNIFER KENNEDY, age 34, of Day Beach, Florida; BRANDON P. MCCOURT, age 25, of Martins Ferry, Ohio; PETER POON, age 43, of Wheeling, West Virginia; RICHARD ROUSH, also known as “RICK,” age 27, of Ormond Beach, Florida; ERIC TERLOSKY, age 29, of Charleston, West Virginia; MEGAN TERLOSKY, age 36, of Moundsville, West Virginia; CRAIG VEGA, also known as “INKY,” age 39, of Moundsville, West Virginia; FRED WILDERN, JR., also known as “FAST FREDDY,” age 62, of Triadelphia, West Virginia; and DAVID T. WOOD, II, also known as “JR,” age 32, of Moundsville, West Virginia.

The following individuals are in custody on related charges: CHRISTOPHER L. GRIGG, also known as “POOKS,” age 24, of Bridgeport, Ohio, and DAVID L. KIDD, II, age 42, of Martins Ferry, Ohio. Both GRIGG and KIDD were indicted in April due to speedy trial requirements, and the Indictment returned this week was a Superseding Indictment, charging them again and 17 others.

The names of those who are still wanted are: HEATHER BURKEY, age 33, of Moundsville, West Virginia; and DONNA A. JONES, age 29, of Nevada.

“The steady flow of pain pills into the Ohio Valley from Florida must stop, and this Indictment should send a message that we are serious about attacking the problem. We have our eyes on other similar operations in the Northern District and plan to take them down as well,” said USA Ihlenfeld. “This conspiracy would not have developed without the complicity of physicians who improperly prescribed medication to many of the individuals that we have charged. While no doctors were indicted this week please rest assured that we are actively pursuing them and will use all of our resources to make sure that they are also held accountable.”

Law enforcement officials joining USA Ihlenfeld for this announcement include: Marshal Gary Gaskins, United States Marshal Service; Kenneth A. Winkie, Group Supervisor, Drug Enforcement Administration; Captain T. D. Bradley, West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Tom Jankowski, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; Chief Robert G. Matheny, Wheeling Police Department; Sheriff Patrick Butler, Ohio County Sheriff’s Department; Sheriff John Gruzinskas, Marshall County Sheriff; Acting Chief Darren Whipkey, Moundsville Police Department; and Acting Chief John P. McFarland, Martins Ferry Police Department.

In addition to charges contained in the Superseding Indictment, there is a Forfeiture Allegation wherein the United States seeks to forfeit property that was used or intended to be used to commit or facilitate the commission of offenses alleged in the Indictment or real property that constitutes or was derived from proceeds traceable to such offenses, including, but not limited to:

● $43,834 in United States Currency and a firearm seized from KIDD’s residence on March 26, 2011;

● $2,907.65 in United States Currency and six firearms seized from GRIGG’s residence on March 26, 2011;

● $13,502 in United States Currency seized from KIDD and GRIGG during a traffic stop in Volusia County, Florida, on March 25, 2011;

● $1,171 in United States Currency seized from JOHNSON on March 26, 2011;

● $2,110 in United States Currency seized from VEGA, MEGAN TERLOSKY, and ERIC TERLOSKY;

● the residence owned by KIDD at 717 Elm Street, Martins Ferry, Ohio;

● the residence owned by WOOD at 1334 Ruby Street, Moundsville, West Virginia;

● 2008 Honda Ridgeline owned by KIDD;

● 2005 Chevy Equinox titled in the name of JOHNSON;

● Compaq Presario laptop computer seized from KIDD and GRIGG on March 25, 2011, in Volusia County, Florida; and

● a money judgment in the amount of at least $3,000,000.

In addition to the above items that we are seeking to forfeit as part of this Superseding Indictment, agencies involved have already seized more than $72,000.00, eight firearms, and approximately 10,700 prescription pills with a street value of between $260,000 and $320,000.

“Today’s arrests have effectively disrupted a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organization responsible for the diversion of prescription drugs into illicit markets,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Ava A. Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division. “The diversion and abuse of prescription drugs continues to be a major threat to young adults. Today’s arrests clearly demonstrate DEA’s commitment, by working with our state and local partners, to stop drug traffickers who profit from the harm they present to our community.”

“With the ever growing epidemic of prescription pill abuse in our state, this is a prime example of what lengths individuals will go to in order to obtain them,” stated Captain Bradley. “The State Police is proud to be involved in this collaborative effort to attack and destroy these illegal drug trading organizations.”

Please see the attached Defendant Data Sheets for specific charges on each defendant.

The case will be prosecuted by USA Ihlenfeld and Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, the Moundsville Police Department, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Martins Ferry Police Department, the Volusia Bureau of Investigations - Central Florida HIDTA, and the Drug Enforcement Administration in Orlando, Florida. The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force consists of the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The United States Marshal Service assisted in this morning’s arrests.