Charleston man sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison for gun and drug crimes

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man who violated his federal supervised release by committing gun and drug crimes was sentenced to prison today, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Marcus W. Taylor, 39, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In today’s hearing, he was sentenced to 20 years and eight months in federal prison and fined $20,000 for those offenses. As part of the sentence, the United States sought the forfeiture of assets or proceeds resulting from the distribution of controlled substances and the Court entered a $300,000 judgment against Taylor. Taylor was also sentenced to an additional two years in prison for violating his federal supervised release. The sentences will be served consecutively.

On September 2, 2016, law enforcement executed search warrants on two residences maintained by Taylor and a car he possessed. During the execution of the search warrants, officers found over 20 pounds of controlled substances, which included over 14 pounds of crystal methamphetamine that a drug laboratory determined to be more than 95% pure, over a kilogram of cocaine, approximately 828 grams of crack, 800 grams of heroin, over $65,000 in cash, multiple firearms, digital scales, and other items often used in the distribution or trafficking of illegal narcotics. The controlled substances seized during the execution of the search warrants had an approximate street value in excess of two million dollars.

The case against Taylor was investigated by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is responsible for the prosecution. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking with existing local programs targeting gun crime. This case was also brought as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of illegal drugs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of illegal drugs in communities across the Southern District.

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