Nationwide, the force seized enough fentanyl in the operation to kill nearly 16 million people. Task force arrests alleged drug trafficker in Federalsburg. The government has since filed a new indictment. The Huntington Police Department on Tuesday announced a partnership with the federally-funded Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. A 2016 investigation into a New Orleans-based task force found federal officers had participated in drug dealing and had stolen money during raids, the New Orleans Advocate reported in a July 2017 article. Charles Town Police Dept. DEA. ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA Joshua Dewayne Simmons, of Elkins, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced. West Virginia State Police. Morgantown Police Dept. We sat down with our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about setting up a video doorbell alternative. Originally started in 1989 with three officers from the Wheeling Police Department working part time on drug investigations, at that time it was called The Wheeling Drug Unit. In total, the force seized 6 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.06 ounces of heroin, 23.99 pounds of marijuana, 3.52 ounces of cocaine, and 6.4 ounces of fentanyl all within the span of one week on roads in West Virginia. The MDENT is composed of officers from agencies including the Charleston Police and Kanawha County Sheriffs Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the state police. DEA Submit a Crime Tip. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force investigates drug and violent crimes in the Ohio Valley area. 304/366-0528 The Randolph County Sheriff's Office is a participating agency proudly partnering with the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force. Nearly the same exact story played out in Hearne, Texas, a year later, in 2000, according to a April 2005 report by the Texas Observer. read more Note that this was a different drug task force than is featured in the other opinions, but same federal Court, and same underlying issues: It would be interesting to find out if a single one of these police officers who were determined by the federal judiciary to have provided false information in a search warrant application were ever thereafter placed on a Brady List for disclosure to criminal defendants in cases involving these officers.. Update, 3/17/22: The West Virginia Record reported that the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia has an open investigation into the matter. Hassan Kanu writes about access to justice, race, and equality under law. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias. Dudley is charged with two F5 counts of drug trafficking and one count of F5 count of possession of drugs. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Posted on March 8, 2022 Reuters reported a few days ago on a recent set of court orders from a federal judge in West Virginia finding a troubling pattern of illegal search warrants obtained by drug task force officers. The apparent pattern of unlawful practices at MDENT isn't unique. Central West Virginia Task Force (Nicholas, Clay, Webster and Pocahontas counties) Task Force Coordinator: R.E. Simmons, 29, pleaded guilty today to one count of Distribution of MethamphetamineAiding and, ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA Albert Perry Shreve, III, of Elkins, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced. Jenkins, 27, pleaded guilty today to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA Cheyanne Mary Katherine Winning, of Montrose, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced. U.S. Forest Service Accessed 17 January, 2023. By the way, federal investigators in West Virginia, so Im told, are required to go to Circuit Court judges, rather than magistrates, in federal criminal investigations in West Virginia. This is the same federal court who presided over the Keith Sizemore case I litigated, where the Court denied a police officer qualified immunity in a civil rights lawsuit for providing false information in a search warrant application. The task force is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiative, a designation that enables the county to draw from federal resources to further the coordination and development of drug control efforts among federal, state and local law enforcement officials. Goodwin, in fact, has criticized the practices of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network (MDENT) in particular in at least three other decisions since 2017, a review of court records shows. wboy.com Major drug & gun bust nets state or federal charges against more than 40 people in Barbour & Randolph counties ELKINS, W.Va. - A major federal, state and local law enforcement effort has resulted in charges against more than 40 people, following a lengthy investigation and subsequent round up, in Barbour an 2 Like Heres the suppression order from the Keith Sizemore case, to which I referred earlier. CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) Aug. 1, 2020 was a significant date in the fight against drugs across West Virginia. Goodwin said in his opinion that U.S. Attorney William Thompson in Charleston, should review the unusual number of recent decisions in his district in which judges threw out evidence that was unlawfully seized. 5/1/2020 Gov. Reuters reported a few days ago on a recent set of court orders from a federal judge in West Virginia finding a troubling pattern of illegal search warrants obtained by drug task force officers. MARSHALL COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE (Appalachia HIDTA) The MDENTs warrant was based on unsourced and undescribed information that someone was selling drugs and the discovery of three marijuana stems in the trash from that persons home which the judge said was clearly insufficient. The U.S. Attorneys Office has reviewed the courts order in the Lark matter and takes the Courts concerns seriously.. Taken together, the decisions paint a damning picture: task force officers who often profile residents, and conduct sloppy or outright illegal investigations; magistrates functioning largely as rubber stamps on resulting warrant applications; and prosecutors who follow through on cases based on illegally-seized evidence. A spokesperson said Thompson conducted a thorough review of policies upon taking office in October 2021 and implemented a new process for reviewing search warrant applications even prior to the order in the Lark case.. Those recent federal court decisions point to a potential pattern of abusive policing within the MDENT, especially in light of a history of serious misconduct among similar narcotics task forces and specialized units. We provide immediate, accurate, and useful data online. While executing the search warrant, task force members located 45 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of cocaine, 20 grams of fentanyl, as well as an additional 30 grams of fentanyl, 23 grams of methamphetamine and 3 grams of cocaine Mount was attempting to flush down the toilet, according to the complaint. The task force, which is comprised of multiple local law enforcement agencies and state police, conducted an in depth investigation over the past few months. Hampshire County Sheriff's Office Here is some information along with a few tips to help you get the best deal on a TV thats made for watching sports. Given how successful the first operation was, I am excited to see how many of these traffickers get stopped in their tracks here in West Virginia. I fear this is becoming a pattern, Goodwin wrote on April 28, 2021, pointing to a similar ruling in another MDENT case from a week earlier. Contact No. That incident is the subject of the 2008 film American Violet. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Strawberry Square Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-3391. Kanu, who was born in Sierra Leone and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, worked in public interest law after graduating from Duke University School of Law. 304/298-4224 ATF Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The Task Forces have members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff's Office; and the Morgantown, WVU, Granville and Star City police departments. Deanna Eder, public affairs officer for Thompson, declined to comment in the pending case. WVSP-BCI+FBI Central West Virginia Drug Task Force P.O. In total, the force seized 6 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.06 ounces of heroin, 23.99 pounds of marijuana, 3.52 ounces of cocaine, and 6.4 ounces of fentanyl all within the span of one week on. 304/284-0060 In the mid 1990s an Ohio County Sheriff's Deputy was added and the name was changed to The Wheeling-Ohio County Drug Unit. : 304/234-6092 Given my position, I am especially proud of the Fusion Centers Narcotics Intelligence Unit and all our analysts and leadership, as they played a crucial role in the success of this operation.. The office has reviewed Goodwin's order and takes the courts concerns seriously, the spokesperson said. NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA The MDENT has also been admonished for what courts described as open and purposeful disregard of the legal limits on searches and seizures by at least one other judge of the Southern District of West Virginia, and in a unanimous opinion by the 4th U.S. Simmons, 29, pleaded guilty today to one count of "Distribution of MethamphetamineAiding and Read more Randolph County man admits to drug charge Posted Monday, 28 February 2022 Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Contact Us Contact Info: Originally started in 1989 with three officers from the Wheeling Police Department working part time on drug investigations, at that time it was called The Wheeling Drug Unit. Contact No. Of the total arrests, 6 were for violent crimes such as murder, rape, and robbery. Dec. 17Morgantown police arrested a Fairmont man found in possession of a stolen vehicle, a stolen firearm, and drugs on Dec. 14. investigates drug and violent crimes in the Ohio Valley area. Alongside other West Virginia sheriff's offices, the West Virginia State Police, the U. S. Forest Service, the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration, county prosecuting attorneys, and the United . Limited Run, only a couple of coins available. MoreLaw Legal News For Martinsburg According to court documents, Daniel Inoa-Rodriguez, also known as "Danny," 23, was heard on wiretap phone calls, talking with other known defendants . Still, a culture of disregard for rights of residents, especially the poor and people of color, underlies many instances of systemic abuse by task forces. Opinions expressed are those of the author. The judge tossed out evidence in a drug case last year, holding that the Charleston Police, MDENT, and a Kanawha County magistrate had again failed to respect constitutional limits on searches and seizures. Tucker County Sheriff's Office. "State and Local Task Forces. An official website of the United States government. Additionally, the Town of Honaker Police Department, the VSP Tac Team and the RCSO's S.E.R.T. The case was investigated by the FBI's Northern West Virginia Drug Task Force and Mon Metro Drug Task Force, which include members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement . As drug trafficking increased nationwide, DEA recognized the need for cooperation and coordination of drug enforcement efforts with their state and local counterparts. The task force has since evolved and now consists of three Wheeling Police Officers, one Ohio County Sheriff's Deputy, and one Trooper from the West Virginia State Police. West Virginia is in serious need of search warrant reform. Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford told me his agency wasnt directly involved in the relevant cases. The tip line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 833-905-3784, where callers can speak with a staff member trained to receive the information. Due to the complexity of drug problems in the region and the varied levels of drug trafficking, the New York City metropolitan area was ideal for federal, state, and local initiatives. Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/operations/state-and-local-task-forces on 17 January, 2023. WV 88, Bealls Ridge Road, Lane Restriction to Begin on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, Lane Restriction on US 40, in Valley Grove, to Begin Monday, January 23, 2023, School Prevention Resource Officer Program. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force investigates drug and violent crimes in the Ohio Valley area. The Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, Martinsburg City Police Department , Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Charles Town Police Department, Ranson Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations and Homeland Security . In December, Goodwin issued an order suppressing evidence seized from a house in 2021. C. HARLESTON A Monroe County native has been appointed to the position of superintendent of the West Virginia State Police. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. Three people have been charged following the execution of a search warrant at a Clarksburg residence. Funding for these task forces is often granted through initiatives such as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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