Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force make 28 arrests

By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate

ELKINS– On Wednesday, 28 individuals were charged with drug and gun charges as a result of an investigation spanning two states and three North Central West Virginia counties, according to United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II.
The indictments were unsealed and allege that a group of individuals from Virginia and West Virginia conspired with one another to operate a methamphetamine distribution ring in the region. The investigation led to the seizure of hundreds of firearms and significant quantities of methamphetamine.
Many of the defendants were taken into custody today during a coordinated, multi-agency arrest operation led by the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. Those individuals facing methamphetamine charges include Shawn Michael Moser, 27, of Elkins; Jerry Wilson Hartley, 35, of Elkins; Kayleigh Marre Hartley, 29, of Elkins; Robert Lewis Jones, 54, of Waynesboro, Virginia; Richard Wayne Scott, 40, of Waynesboro, Virginia; Joseph Muster, 28, of Elkins; Samantha Canfield, 28, of Montrose; Christina Crites, 46, of Elkins; Calvin Norris Herron, Jr., 43, of Belington; Gerald Allen Freeman, 41, of Moatsville; Jeffrey Everson, 28, of Philippi; Allen White, 37, of Buckhannon; Jason Randall Howard, 37, of Elkins; Brian Scott Mayle, 37, of Coalton; Geniece Pancake, 36, of Belington; Tyler Robinson, 20, of Belington; Ronald G. Swiger, 36, of Coalton; Trey M. Plaugher, 21, of Elkins; David A. Maxwell, 31, of Elkins; Derek Scott Norris, 36, of Philippi; Mitchell Corey Adams, 29 of Parsons; Britni Mikkel Ball, 29, of Parsons; Staci Diane Smith, 33, of Hepzibah; and Jesse Derick Suesli, 34, of Hambleton.
In addition, Dale Lee Sharp, 45, of Elkins was arrested on an illegal possession of firearm charge.
Three additional individuals facing firearms charges have not yet been taken into custody and their indictments remained sealed.
“This case is a great example of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies coming together to address a significant methamphetamine threat that was tearing apart a small community in West Virginia, said Karl Colder, DEA Special Agent in Charge. “The quantity of drugs distributed and amount of guns seized is staggering. This case should serve as a warning to those individuals who plague our communities by distributing these drugs and committing acts of violence. The Washington Division would like to thank our federal partner at the ATF for their outstanding support on this case. Additionally, the DEA would like to thank the Barbour County Sheriff, Randolph County Sheriff, Tucker County Sheriff, Elkins Police Department and West Virginia State Police for their continued support.”
“The defendants represent a significant number of Federal firearms violations including armed drug trafficking and prohibited persons possessing firearms,” said Stuart L. Lowrey, ATF Special Agent in Charge. “The Mountain Region Drug Task Force is commended for working to make the community a safer place. ATF will continue to work with this Task Force and other partners to reduce violent crime in the region.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is handling the cases on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Drug Task Force led the investigation. The Task Force is made up of the United States Forest Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tucker County Sheriff’s Office. The United States Marshals Service, the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office, and the Elkins Police Department assisted in the arrest operation today. In addition, the National Guard Armory allowed the use of their space to coordinate these efforts.
“The United States Forest Service is proud to be a part of the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force,” said Kurt Morine, U.S. Forest Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Region. “We are committed to helping keep our forest and our community a safe place to live and visit. The investigation exemplifies how successful our agencies can be when we work together for a common goal.”
Ihlenfeld commended the work of all the agencies involved in the investigation.
Tucker County Sheriff Brian Wilfong said the group has been working on the case for more than a year.
“We went from one to the other and it kind of spiraled,” Wilfong said. “This is where we have gotten so far and not everyone has been arrested. All three have been arrested. There is one individual who did live in Tucker County but has since moved out of the county.”
Wilfong said Tucker County has been a member of the task force for more than three years.
“Everybody brings their resources, knowledge and experiences to the group and it makes it easier,” Wilfong said.
Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney Ray LaMora III said the sharing of information among the task force is vital.
“Having an opportunity to sit down with other counties, other prosecutors, sheriff’s departments, ATF and DEA allows us to talk about what individuals you are looking at helps bring an investigation together,” LaMora said. “There is no way the Tucker County Sheriff’s Department could have pulled off something like this alone. It takes every organization and their assets coordinating to do something like this.”
Wilfong said hundreds of man hours involved in something like this.
LaMora said anyone who has a tip in Tucker County should call the tip line at 304-636-8477.
Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force Members include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District, West Virginia State Police, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Prosecutor’s Office, Tucker County Sheriff’s Department, Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Pocahontas County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The United States Marshals Service, Barbour County Sheriff’s Department and the Elkins Police Department assisted in the arrest operation.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.