Charleston drug dealer sentenced to eight years in federal prison for methamphetamine crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to eight years in federal prison for a methamphetamine charge, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Terrus Carter, 36, previously entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Carter admitted that from December 2015 to March 2016, he conspired with Alisha Watts to distribute methamphetamine from their residence at 7270 Stonebrook Road in Charleston. Carter further admitted that he would bring methamphetamine and marijuana to the residence to store, repackage, and distribute the drugs. Watts permitted this criminal activity in exchange for Carter paying the rent and all of the bills at the residence.

On March 18, 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Stonebrook residence and seized a loaded handgun, over 620 grams of methamphetamine, over 120 pounds of marijuana, and over $34,000 in cash. On March 20, 2016, officers executed another search warrant at 111 1st Avenue in St. Albans. During the execution of the search warrant, Carter attempted to flee out of the back door and was quickly detained by law enforcement. Officers discovered over $45,000 in cash at the St. Albans residence. As part of his plea agreement, Carter agreed to forfeit the St. Albans residence and the cash seized by law enforcement.

Carter faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 18, 2016. Watts previously pleaded guilty in April 2016 to maintaining a drug-involved premises. Watts faces up to 20 years in federal prison when she is sentenced on August 17, 2016.

The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is handling the prosecution. United States District John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence.

This case was brought as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat illegal drugs in our communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of drugs in communities across the Southern District. 

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