West Virginia Man Indicted on Charges of Conspiring to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Large Amounts of Meth and Cocaine

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A West Virginia man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, after having first been charged by complaint, on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The two-count indictment, returned on November 13, named Durell Anthony Jones, 33, of Fairmont, West Virginia, as the sole defendant.

According to the criminal complaint presented to the court, at 5:30 a.m. on October 21, 2018, Jones was observed by law enforcement officers parking near a tractor trailer with California tags in the back of a gas station in Portersville, Pennsylvania. After opening his trunk and making movements to the rear of his vehicle, he drove a Kia Sedan onto Interstate 79, southbound. A trooper from the Pennsylvania State Police stopped the Kia for a violation of the Pennsylvania motor vehicle laws as it was traveling South on Interstate 79. Jones provided his name and date of birth, and State Police were able to determine that Jones had an active warrant in Michigan.

According to the complaint, a search of the Kia revealed approximately 55.5 kilograms (122 pounds) of methamphetamine and approximately 4.58 kilograms (10 pounds) of cocaine. The meth and cocaine were located in the trunk of the vehicle in four separate duffle-type bags.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 25 years in prison, a fine of not more than $25,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Troy Rivetti and Jeffrey R. Bengel are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Brady commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the indictment of Jones.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.