Two Men Convicted of Drug Trafficking in Monongalia County

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal jury convicted two individuals for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that was distributing illegal drugs in North Central West Virginia.

Frank Brown, 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Rex Jenkins, 32, of Southfield, Michigan, were each convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and the distribution of methamphetamine. Jenkins was convicted of two additional counts involving the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.

The jury heard evidence that the two men were a part of the drug trafficking organization, supplying large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Brown and Jenkins each face up to 20 years for each count. They will be sentenced at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley and AUSA Christie UTT are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the United States.

This case was investigated by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. The task force consists of members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; the WVU Police Department; the Granville Police Department; and the Star City Police Department.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies and eliminates the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.