Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Multi-State Heroin Conspiracy

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man who participated in a conspiracy which saw large quantities of heroin transported from Akron, Ohio and distributed in the Southern District of West Virginia pled guilty today in federal court in Huntington, West Virginia, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Weston Dallas McDaniels, 34, entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

“Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors are working together like never before to dismantle multi-state drug trafficking networks funneling large quantities of deadly drugs into our communities,” United States Attorney Mike Stuart said. “We are holding these pushers, peddlers and traffickers accountable for the tragic addiction and chaos they cause in our communities.”

McDaniels admitted that during the month of September 2019, he participated in a conspiracy with multiple individuals to distribute heroin in the Charleston area. During the conspiracy, McDaniels was directed to a source of supply for heroin in Akron, Ohio. McDaniels and the source met in Akron on multiple occasions where the source provided McDaniels with heroin. McDaniels then transported the heroin to the Southern District of West Virginia where it was sold. On September 13, 2019, McDaniels acquired an additional amount of heroin from the source in Akron and was subsequently stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. A trooper located and seized the heroin and McDaniels admitted that he was transporting the heroin to West Virginia. A chemist later determined that the heroin also contained fentanyl and weighed in excess of 300 grams. 

McDaniels faces five to 40 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on September 21, 2020.

This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart

###