Two more defendants sentenced in oxymorphone conspiracy

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that two more defendants were sentenced in federal court in Huntington, West Virginia, for their role in an oxymorphone distribution scheme that took place in a Nitro home.

Jennifer Russell, 42, of Nitro, was sentenced today to five years of probation for knowingly maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing oxymorphone. Russell admitted that from November of 2013 to January of 2014, she allowed her residence at 21A Bailes Drive in Nitro to be used as a place for distribution of oxymorphone pills. Russell allowed Karson Williams, Bridgette Kelly, Gregory Lindsey, and others to distribute the illicit pills from the house.    

Karson Williams, 21, of Charleston, was sentenced to five years of probation for aiding and abetting the distribution of oxymorphone. Williams previously pleaded guilty to the federal drug charge and admitted that on January 14, 2014, he sold a 40 mg oxymorphone pill, commonly known as “Opana,” to a confidential informant. The drug deal took place at Jennifer Russell’s house in Nitro, and Williams further admitted that Bridgette Kelly helped Williams with the drug deal.

Bridgette Kelly, of Charleston, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxymorphone and was sentenced on September 14, 2015, to three years and one month in federal prison. Kelly conspired with Gregory Lindsey, of Detroit, to distribute oxymorphone pills from Jennifer Russell’s residence in Nitro. Lindsey made regular trips to Detroit, sometimes with Kelly, and brought back approximately 100 oxymorphone pills each trip for distribution. On January 30, 2014, officers executed a search warrant at Jennifer Russell’s residence in Nitro and seized over twenty 30 mg oxymorphone pills, over thirty 40 mg oxymorphone pills, and a firearm in Lindsey’s possession. Lindsey previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute oxymorphone, and was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison on August 4, 2014.  

These cases were investigated by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team and the prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman. 

These cases is being 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 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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