COLUMBUS MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR SELLING CRACK COCAINE IN MCDOWELL COUNTY, W.Va.

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced that a Columbus man was sentenced on Jan. 29 to one year in federal prison for distributing a quantity of crack cocaine.  Thomas Jennings, 53, admitted that on June 28, 2012, he sold a quantity of crack cocaine to a person cooperating with law enforcement authorities.  The illegal transaction took place at a residence in Maybeury, McDowell County, W.Va.  Jennings also admitted that on June 27, 2012, he sold a quantity of crack cocaine and two morphine pills.  The defendant further admitted to selling a quantity of crack cocaine on July 2, 2012. 

The West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force handled the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecution.  The sentence was imposed by United States District Senior Judge David A. Faber. 

The case was brought as part of the Bluefield Pill Initiative.  The Bluefield Pill Initiative is a collaborative, multi-agency regional law enforcement effort designed to halt prescription drug trafficking in Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming Counties.  The Bluefield Pill Initiative is led by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Bluefield and Princeton Police Departments.