Two Hardy County men charged with heroin trafficking
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Jason Wayne Russell, 38, of Moorefield, WV and Brandon David Fout, 20, of Old Fields, WV, with heroin trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
From January through June 2015, Russell and Fout allegedly conspired with one another to transport heroin across state lines from Baltimore, Maryland into West Virginia in order to redistribute the drug.
Russell and Fout are each charged with one count of “Heroin Conspiracy,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin – Aiding and Abetting,” and one count of “Interstate Travel in Furtherance of a Drug Crime.” They both face up to 20 years in prison and up to $1,000,000 in fines for each the conspiracy and possession charges. They also face up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for the interstate travel charge. 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 defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police, West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.