Granville Woman Gets 33 Months for Coke Deal

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Another cog in the West Virginia drug machine is off the streets. Sandra Riggleman, 60, of Granville, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison today for her role in a cocaine base distribution network operating in Monongalia County. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh.

Riggleman pled guilty back in April 2019 to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Cocaine Base.” The charge stems from activity in April 2018, where she directly participated in pushing the drug within Monongalia County. Details of the operation remain largely sealed, but sources indicate Riggleman wasn’t a high-level player, more a street-level distributor.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell’s office hasn’t released details on the quantity of cocaine base involved, but the 33-month sentence suggests a significant, sustained involvement. This isn’t a slap on the wrist, but it also isn’t the kind of bust that takes down a major cartel figure. It’s the steady drip of poison into communities like Granville that fuels addiction and violence.

The investigation was spearheaded by the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a unit heavily funded by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA money flows into these task forces, allowing them to operate across jurisdictional lines and target drug networks. While the program has its critics, it clearly keeps these investigations moving.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley successfully prosecuted the case, building a case that led to Riggleman’s guilty plea. Wesley has a reputation for being a tough prosecutor, and this sentence reflects that. The case serves as a warning: even those at the lower rungs of the drug trade face serious federal penalties.

Riggleman’s case is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Monongalia County, like much of West Virginia, continues to grapple with the opioid crisis and the proliferation of other dangerous drugs. While taking down one dealer is a small victory, the fight is far from over. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on the ongoing efforts to dismantle these criminal networks.