Four Elkins area men arrested on federal drug trafficking charges

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Four Elkins area men were arrested today after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging them with marijuana and oxycodone trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Chad Allen Workman, 37, of Beverly, West Virginia, Charles Shawn Shannon, 54, of Belington, West Virginia, Roy Melvin Isner, 62, and Mark W. Lambert, 39, both of Elkins, are alleged to have operated an extensive and long-term drug trafficking operation within the Northern District of West Virginia. Workman is further alleged to have utilized the unlawful proceeds of the drug trafficking operation to purchase vehicles, real estate, and person vacations.

The defendants are each charged with one count of “Marijuana Conspiracy,” for which they each face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

Workman is further charged with:
• One count of “Money Laundering,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.00,
• One count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.00,
• One count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana,” for which he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00,
• One count of “Possession of an Unregistered Machine Gun,” for which he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00, and
• One count of “Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User,” for which he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.
Lambert is further charged with:
• One count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.00,
• Four counts of “Distribution of Marijuana.” He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00 on each count.
Isner is further charged with:
• One count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.00,
• One count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana,” for which he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00,
• One count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00.
Shannon is further charged with two counts of “Distribution of Marijuana.” He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00 on each count.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

The defendants charged in the present indictment are alleged to have worked closely with other individuals previously charged with drug trafficking in the Northern District of West Virginia. Chad Frederick Arbogast, 36, of Belington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for selling oxycodone in Barbour County, West Virginia. Chad Preston, 35, of Coalton, West Virginia, was sentenced to three years of probation for oxycodone trafficking in Elkins.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment in December 2014 charging four individuals for their role in a scheme to procure oxycodone from sources in Detroit, New Jersey, and Florida for redistribution and sale in West Virginia. Jonathan Paul Calain, 37, of Elkins, pled guilty in February 2015 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00. Matthew L. Cordero, 32, of Vineland, New Jersey, pled guilty in February 2015 to “Distribution of Oxycodone” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of to $1,000,000.00. Gregory Stephen Scott, 34, of Beverly West Virginia, pled guilty in February 2015 to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone – Aiding and Abetting,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00. Stevie Lea Sharp, 28, of Coalton, West Virginia, pled guilty in February 2015 to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone,” for which she faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00.

In another related matter, a federal grand jury returned an indictment in December 2014 charging Arthur Woodrow Pritt, Jr., 38, of Archer, Florida, with transporting marijuana from Florida into West Virginia. He pled guilty in February 2015 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana,” for which he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is leading the inquiry. The Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office are also investigating. 
 
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.