Defendants Sentenced in Federal Court

Bluefield, W.Va. -  United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that two defendants were sentenced to prison in federal court in Bluefield.  Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentences. 

Alvin Gardner, 31, of Bluefield, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for distribution of oxymorphone.  Gardner pled guilty in February, admitting that he sold a quantity of oxymorphone to an informant on August 15, 2018, in Bluefield.  He further admitted that he sold oxymorphone to an informant on three other occasions in August of 2018, and that on August 21, 2018 authorities found 193 oxymorphone pills, 165 oxycodone pills and $4655 in his Bluefield residence.  The case was investigated by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force under the Bluefield Pill Initiative, part of a joint law enforcement effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illegal distribution of prescription pills and other drugs in communities across Southern West Virginia.

Antonio Lancaster, 36, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at McDowell, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possession of a weapon by an inmate.  Lancaster pled guilty in March, admitting that on December 6, 2018, he possessed a handcrafted weapon known as a “shank” while he was incarcerated at the prison.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

“Two more convicted felons headed to the federal pen,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “On average, 130 people each day die from opioids.  130 people.  We have super-charged enforcement efforts and we are making a difference.  We have taken a ‘tough on crime’ approach.  Those in our community that break federal law, cause violence on our streets, and aid the deterioration of the social fabric of our families and communities will not be treated with kid gloves by this office.  And once prosecuted and incarcerated, we fully expect each inmate to follow the rules.  There is simply no excuse for breaking the law, being convicted and sentenced, and, while incarcerated, placing our prison guards and workers in harm’s way.  No excuse whatsoever.”     

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John File.