MERCER COUNTY PILL DEALER SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION OF PAINKILLERS

BECKLEY, W.Va. – U. S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that a Mercer County man was sentenced to six years in federal prison for illegally distributing prescription drugs. Andrae Cortez Simmons, 38, of Princeton, W.Va., previously pleaded guilty in August to distributing oxymorphone, also known as “Opana.” Simmons admitted that on February 14, 2012, he distributed 40 pills containing oxymorphone to individuals cooperating with law enforcement authorities.  The illegal pill transaction took place at a residence near Princeton, Mercer County, W.Va.  Simmons further admitted that he is responsible for selling a total of approximately 1760 oxymorphone pills over a several month period.   

The case was prosecuted as part of the Bluefield Pill Initiative.  The Bluefield Pill Initiative is a collaborative, multi-agency regional law enforcement effort designed to halt prescription drug trafficking in Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming Counties.  The Bluefield Pill Initiative is led by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Bluefield and Princeton Police Departments.  Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecution.   The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.    

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