Thirty-three charged with oxycodone distribution

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Thirty-three individuals have been charged in a 129-count federal indictment as a result of an investigation spanning two states and four North Central West Virginia counties, according to Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen.

Indictments were unsealed today alleging that a group of individuals from Michigan and West Virginia conspired with one another to operate an oxycodone distribution operation in the region.

Many of the defendants were taken into custody today during a coordinated, multi-agency arrest operation led by the Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. Those individuals facing federal drug charges include:

• Terry Thomas, a.k.a. “Top,” 44, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Michael Wesley, a.k.a. “Black”, a.k.a. “Big Flea,” 45, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Michael James Anthony, a.k.a. “Spook,” 42, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Christopher Lloyd, a.k.a. “Red,” 31, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Darmatrice Love, 32, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Robert Brown, Jr., a.k.a. “Pooh,” 23, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Andrew Thomas, a.k.a. “Bud,” 26, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Sean Miller Phillips, Jr., 24, of Eastpointe, Michigan;
• Devante Maddox, 25, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Konshawntas Boyd, 37, of Detroit, Michigan;
• Brianna Blackman, a.k.a. “BB,” 21, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
• Tiffany Edwards, 35, of Westover, West Virginia;
• Codey Bonnette, 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
• Leon Jamar Maddox, 34, of Fairmont, West Virginia;
• Amanda Gifford, a.k.a. “Mandi,” 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
• Floyd Pancoast, 24, of Pursglove, West Virginia;
• Jason Pancoast, 23, of Pursglove, West Virginia;
• Christopher Moriarty, 24, of Buckhannon, West Virginia;
• Carlee Cuppet, 25, of Kingwood, West Virginia;
• Brittany Brown, 31, of Stonewood, West Virginia;
• Ariel Blosser, 27, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
• Amanda Maddox, 32, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
• Brandy Miller, 28, of Salem, West Virginia;
• Anna May Martin, 31, of Westover, West Virginia;
• Kimberley Mozie, 36, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
• Jason Perry, 35, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
• Holly Jo Exline, 22, of Dellslow, West Virginia;
• McKenna Kansco, 22, Crawford, West Virginia;
• Marjorie Sue Webster, 23, Maidsville, West Virginia;
• Thomas Keener, II, 22, of Fairmont, West Virginia;
• Jayla Shade, 20, of Morgantown, West Virginia;
• Jesse Tichenor, 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia; and
• Bobbie Jo Phillips, 30, of Morgantown, West Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is handling the cases on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the investigation, which was initiated as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The Task Force consists of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, Morgantown Police Department, the Star City Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia University Police Department, the Granville Police Department, and the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The US Marshals Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Monongalia County Processing and Transport Personnel, the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force MHIT Group, the Mountain State Drug Task Force, the Three Rivers Drug Task Force-Fairmont, and the Fairmont Police Department assisted in the arrest operation today. In addition, West Virginia State Police and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office allowed the use of their spaces to coordinate these efforts.

Acting United States Attorney Steinfeld Jividen commended the work of all the agencies involved in the investigation.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.