Members of the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force sponsor a press conference in Elkins last Monday to announce the arrest of four area men arrested for marijuana and prescription drug trafficking.
ELKINS – Four Elkins area men were arrested last Monday following a federal grand jury indictment charging them with marijuana and oxycodone trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced during a press conference at the Jennings Randolph Federal Building.
Chad Allen Workman, 37, of Beverly, Charles Shawn Shannon, 54, of Belington, Roy Melvin Isner, 62, and Mark W. Lambert, 39, both of Elkins, are alleged to have operated an extensive and long-term drug trafficking operation within the Northern District of West Virginia.
“Recently, we were before each of you to talk about the good work of this Task Force in 2014, and we promised to be back before you again to talk about an important investigation that has been ongoing,” Ihlenfeld said. “This investigation has been going on for a long period of time. The indictment that was unsealed today was one of several indictments in a major investigation. One of the leaders of this organization was indicted and arrested and his name is Chad Workman.”
Ihlenfeld said the individuals arrested were part of a significant and lengthy conspiracy to bring marijuana and prescription pain-killers to the Elkins region for redistribution.
“The quantities brought to the region were significant,” Ihlenfeld said. “I can tell you, this is one of the most significant dismantles of a drug organization this region has ever seen.”
A press release about the incident says Workman is further alleged to have utilized the unlawful proceeds of the drug trafficking operation to purchase vehicles, real estate, and person vacations. The defendants are each charged with one count of “Marijuana Conspiracy,” for which they each face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Workman is further charged with one count of “Money Laundering,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000, one count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000, one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana,” for which he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, one count of “Possession of an Unregistered Machine Gun,” for which he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 and one count of “Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User,” for which he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Lambert is further charged with one count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 and four counts of “Distribution of Marijuana.” He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.
Isner is further charged with one count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000, one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana,” for which he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Shannon is further charged with two counts of “Distribution of Marijuana.” He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.
Ihlenfeld said the arrest of the four individuals is connected to a much larger investigation, a much larger puzzle that is starting to come together. “We are able to talk about it more today. This started back in the early 2000’s and it involved primarily acquisition of marijuana from other parts of the country and its redistribution in the Elkins region and the acquisition of prescription pain killers from other parts of the country and the redistribution of those here in the Elkins region.”
Ihlenfeld said those arrested each had different roles. “At the top of this organization, you would have Mr. Workman and Mr. Calain, the two leaders of this organization. Some just moved pills – some just moved marijuana and some did both. Some of these worked together at times, and some competed at times.
“This group, these people had a strong foothold in this community,” Ihlenfeld said. “Some might say, when you step back and take a look, these individuals never would have been taken down. Some said they felt these individuals were untouchable and would never be brought to justice like we are bringing them to justice today.”
Ihlenfeld said he feels the individuals arrested are responsible for the majority of marijuana and prescription pain-killers that have hit the streets in the Elkins region over the past decade or so.
Locally, Tucker County Sheriff Brian Wilfong said he is pleased with the work of the Task Force.
“The mission of the Task Force is to prevent illegal drug activity in the state of West Virginia and the U.S.,” Wilfong said. “I believe the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is doing just that and making a big impact in our region. We’re trying really hard to break the war on drugs and make our region a better and safer place to live.”
Ray LaMora III, Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney, echoed Wilfong’s sentiments.
“It’s still very helpful just for intradepartmental law enforcement,” LaMora said. “Our law enforcement officers did go over to Randolph County and assist in serving the search warrants. Just because it did not affect Tucker County with the arrests – those drugs were coming into Tucker County. They were crossing borders. Drug dealers do not care where a county line begins and ends.”
LaMora said the Task Force taking down Workman was really important for everyone involved in and out of the Task Force.
“The Task Force is still doing very good work,” LaMora said. “There are still a number of investigations that have not come to fruition yet but will be.”
He said the Task Force’s work is a deterrent to others.
“When you see somebody getting hit with counts that hold up to 20 years in jail, it is something people pay attention to,” LaMora said. “It’s great because people know they are taking a very big chance to make some money, but they are taking an extremely big chance of going to jail for a majority of their life. The Task Force is not only stopping those committing crimes, but deterring those who might be upstarts or thinking of a career in some illegal activities.”
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
The defendants charged in the present indictment are alleged to have worked closely with other individuals previously charged with drug trafficking in the Northern District of West Virginia. Chad Frederick Arbogast, 36, of Belington, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for selling oxycodone in Barbour County. Chad Preston, 35, of Coalton, was sentenced to three years of probation for oxycodone trafficking in Elkins.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in December 2014 charging four individuals for their role in a scheme to procure oxycodone from sources in Detroit, New Jersey and Florida for redistribution and sale in West Virginia. Jonathan Paul Calain, 37, of Elkins, pled guilty in February 2015 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Matthew L. Cordero, 32, of Vineland, New Jersey, pled guilty in February 2015 to “Distribution of Oxycodone” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of to $1 million. Gregory Stephen Scott, 34, of Beverly, pled guilty in February 2015 to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone – Aiding and Abetting,” for which he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Stevie Lea Sharp, 28, of Coalton, pled guilty in February 2015 to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone,” for which she faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
In another related matter, a federal grand jury returned an indictment in December 2014 charging Arthur Woodrow Pritt, Jr., 38, of Archer, Florida, with transporting marijuana from Florida into West Virginia. He pled guilty in February 2015 to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana,” for which he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000..
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is leading the inquiry. The Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office are also investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
