Four Lincoln County Family Members Plead Guilty To Oxycodone Distribution

Charleston, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that four members of a Lincoln County family entered guilty pleas today in federal court in Charleston.  Larry Wayne Lawson, 54, of West Hamlin, wife, Tina Taylor Lawson, 37, son, Jason Wayne Lawson, 30, and son’s fiancé, Tia Estep, 28, of Seymour, Tennessee all entered guilty pleas admitting their involvement in distributing oxycodone in August of 2013. 

Larry Lawson and Tina Taylor Lawson admitted that on August 13, 2013, they sold 5 oxycodone pills to a confidential informant (CI) working with law enforcement.  The CI sent a text message to the Lawson’s cell phone asking whether the couple had any pills for sale.  Tina Lawson responded via text message, that they could supply the pills and directed the CI to meet them at their home on Bear Creek in West Hamlin, West Virginia.  When the CI arrived at the Lawson’s home, Larry Lawson sold him 5 oxycodone 30 mg pills for $200.00.

The following day, on August 14, 2013, the CI phoned Larry Lawson and arranged to purchase additional oxycodone pills.  Larry Lawson directed the CI to come back to his Bear Creek residence where Jason Lawson and Tia Estep sold the CI 5 oxycodone 30 mg pills for $200.00.

All four defendants face up to 20 years imprisonment when they are sentenced on November 20, 2014, before United States District Court Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.

This case was investigated by the Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force and the West Virginia State Police.

This case was prosecuted 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 prescription drugs and heroin  The United States 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 opiate painkillers and heroin.