Two Greenbrier County dealers headed to federal prison for drug crimes

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Two Greenbrier County men were sentenced to prison today for federal drug crimes, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Willie Keaton Goodson III, 22, of Ronceverte, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for distribution of oxymorphone. In a separate prosecution, James Michael Payne, 63, of Frankford, was sentenced to a year and four months in federal prison for distribution of heroin.   

Goodson admitted that on October 22, 2015, he distributed oxymorphone pills at his Ronceverte residence to a confidential informant working with law enforcement. Goodson further admitted that he distributed oxymorphone pills on three other occasions. During the course of the investigation, authorities seized large quantities of oxymorphone, oxycodone, and heroin from Goodson’s residence and from property near his residence. Law enforcement also seized over $100,000 cash that Goodson forfeited to the state of West Virginia. Officers additionally seized firearms that Goodson admitted he possessed while selling drugs.

In a separate drug prosecution, Payne admitted that on August 21, 2015, he distributed six stamps, or packets, of heroin to a confidential informant cooperating with law enforcement authorities. The drug deal took place in the Fairlea area of Greenbrier County. Payne also admitted that he distributed a total of approximately 100 stamps of heroin during August and September of 2015.  

The investigations were conducted by the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecutions. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentences.

These prosecutions were brought as part of the Greenbrier Valley Heroin and Pill Initiative, 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 U.S. 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 in communities across the Southern District.

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