Pittsburgh Man Sentenced To 140 Months

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WHEELING, WV – A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, man was sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin in the Wetzel County area, by Chief Judge John Preston Bailey.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that Damon Rashad Reese, also known as “Mac”, age 26, was sentenced to 140 months in prison and four years of supervised release. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of $8,674 in U.S. currency and a 2002 Lexus which constitute proceeds from the illegal activity. Reese was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard and investigated by the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

In other court proceedings before Judge Bailey, Ihlenfeld announced that James Nathan Barcus, age 38, of Wheeling was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances from December of 2011 until May 18, 2012, in the Wheeling area. Barcus, who is free on bond, will self-report to the designated Federal institution on September 11, 2014. Assistant United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard was the lead prosecutor and was assisted by Ihlenfeld. The matter was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, which includes officers and agents from the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Substantial assistance was provided by the Hancock-Brooke -Weirton Drug Task Force, which includes Weirton Police Officers, Hancock County Sheriff’s Deputies, and DEA Agents. Assistance was also provided by the Pennsylvania State Police.

Amanda Barker, age 25, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 6 months in prison and six years of supervised release for the distribution of alprazolam near a protected location in Marshall County in 2012. Barker was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. and investigated by the Marshall County Drug Task Force, consisting of officers and agents from the Moundsville Police Department, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The task force receives federal funding from the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) initiative.