ELKINS – Leaders of the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force announced the results of their collaborative efforts in 2014 last Tuesday in Elkins. Representatives shared their goals for 2015, including their hope to form a stronger partnership with the public.
Leaders of the Mountain Region Drug Task Force met in Elkins last Tuesday to share successes from 2014. Pictured are Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney Raymond LaMora III, Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker, Pocahontas County Prosecuting Attorney Eugene Simmons and U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II.
“We were hear almost a year ago to tell you about the formation of this group,” Ihlenfeld said. “It was something that took some time to put together, but all of the entities you see represented up here came together and formed a unit that was very much needed in the Northern District of West Virginia. It has been quite successful and quite effective in pulling and leveraging resources so we can be more effective in combating drug trafficking in this region.”
Ihlenfeld said in 2014, investigations by the Task Force led to 47 individuals being prosecuted in federal court. He said the prosecutions included 23 for methamphetamine distribution, 17 for prescription pill trafficking, four for marijuana trafficking, two for cocaine trafficking and one for unlawful possession of firearms.
“As you can tell, the numbers weighed heavily toward methamphetamine distribution and the manufacturing of methamphetamine,” Ihlenfeld said. “That is an issue we continue to see in this part of the state, not only in Randolph County but also in Tucker, Pocahontas, Upshur and surrounding counties.”
Ihlenfeld said methamphetamine distribution and manufacturing is something the group will continue to focus on in 2015.
“We recently had some significant seizures of crystal methamphetamine,” Ihlenfeld said. “That is somewhat alarming to all of us in law enforcement. To see that type of methamphetamine making its way to North Central West Virginia typically comes from out of state or out of the country. That is something we are to pay close attention to in 2015.”
Ihlenfeld said in 2014, defendants investigated by the Mountain Region Drug Task Force were required to forfeit more than $31,000 in U.S. currency, two residences used to distribute controlled substances, two motor vehicles, multiple firearms and money judgments in excess of $400,000.
“There are a number of seizures going through the system right now,” Ihlenfeld said. “Money that was seized in 2014 has to go through the system and we will see the benefit of that.
“As I said about a year ago, the enhanced cooperation from law enforcement agencies is essential,” Ihlenfeld said. “It has proven to be effective right here with this task force.”
Ihlenfeld said in 2014, the group was able to successfully identify and prosecute drug supplies from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida and California.
“You are going to see more of that in 2015,” Ihlenfeld said. “Out of state drug suppliers bringing drugs here to North Central West Virginia.”
Ihlenfeld said he wanted to emphasize was a request to have the public join the fight on drugs.
“We would like to promote our tip line,” Ihlenfeld said. “This task force has a tip hotline. The number is 304-636-TIPS. We encourage members of the communities this task force serves to call this number and give us information about drug trafficking they are seeing in their neighborhoods. We also want to promote our website at mountainregiondtf.com.”
Ihlenfeld said there are two benefits to the website – it gives the public information about the great work the task force is doing and it gives the public another way to give information to the task force about drug trafficking going on in their communities.
“We encourage more people to go to that website,” Ihlenfeld said. “We are going to do more to promote that website and get it out there as much as we can so the public knows what is going on and also knows where they can go to give us information.”
Ihlenfeld said West Virginia is still the number one state in the country for drug overdose deaths.
“We have our work cut out for us,” Ihlenfeld said. “We have to continue to do what this task force is doing. The great thing about this task force is there is a common thread from this task force to the other task forces in the Northern District. The U.S. Attorney, the DEA and State Police are involved with those task forces. What that does is help to connect the dots.”
Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney Raymond LaMora III said he feels the Mountain Region Drug Task Force has brought greater cooperation between all levels of law enforcement.
“Even though we have not seen an uptick in state prosecutions, the information developed in many Tucker County investigations has led to federal indictments and prosecutions in surrounding counties. Each arrest, and each prosecution in our region, is a benefit to our county as the flow of narcotics begins to trickle less and less into the homes of our communities.”
Individuals with information on drug activity in the region are encouraged to call the Task Force hotline at 304-636-TIPS. Regular updates on the work of the Task Force are available at mountainregiondtf.com and via the official Twitter feed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, @NDWVnews.
