Charleston Pill Pusher Gets 5+ Years

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Another cog in the opioid machine grinds to a halt. Michael Scarberry, 37, of Charleston, West Virginia, received a 63-month federal prison sentence today for peddling hydrocodone throughout the city. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced the sentencing, marking another victory – however small – in the unending war against prescription drug abuse plaguing the Mountain State.

Scarberry pleaded guilty late last year, admitting to multiple sales of the highly addictive painkiller to an undercover officer with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). The investigation revealed Scarberry wasn’t just a street-level dealer; he was actively sourcing the pills from trips to Florida, bringing them back to Charleston with the sole intention of profiting from others’ addiction.

This wasn’t a solo operation. Scarberry’s uncle, Clarence Scarberry, 51, also of Charleston, was sentenced earlier this week to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the same conspiracy. Details of Clarence Scarberry’s involvement weren’t immediately released, but authorities confirmed he assisted Michael in the illicit scheme.

The 63-month sentence handed down to Michael Scarberry will be followed by three years of supervised release. While it removes one dealer from the streets, it’s a temporary fix for a deeply rooted problem. The Southern District of West Virginia remains a hotbed for opioid trafficking, and federal prosecutors are vowing to continue their aggressive pursuit of those responsible.

“This case is part of an ongoing effort to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin,” stated a release from Goodwin’s office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, alongside a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, is focused on dismantling drug trafficking networks, shutting down open-air markets, and stemming the flow of dangerous opioids into communities.

Assistant United States Attorney John Frail led the prosecution. The case serves as a stark reminder: bringing drugs into West Virginia, especially potent opioids like hydrocodone, comes with severe consequences. But until the demand is addressed, and the pipeline from source to street is fully choked off, the Grim Times will continue to report on the never-ending cycle of addiction and its consequences.