Jasper Wemh, 39, of Charleston, has been sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history.
The sentencing marks a major milestone in the takedown of the methamphetamine trafficking organization, dubbed Operation Smoke and Mirrors, which resulted in the seizure of over 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms, and $935,000 in cash.
Wemh, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, is among 27 of 32 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the case and among 20 sentenced to prison. The case is the result of a major drug trafficking investigation that involved law enforcement agencies from the federal, state, and local levels.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Wemh is responsible for over 85 pounds of methamphetamine distributed by the DTO in 2022. He routinely completed transactions involving multiple pounds at a time and sold over 20 pounds of methamphetamine during a single night on December 4, 2022.
Wemh obtained methamphetamine from his out-of-state supplier on consignment, distributing the methamphetamine to multiple customers and paying his supplier from the proceeds from distributing the supplier’s methamphetamine. He made payments totaling $250,000 to a runner working on behalf of his supplier to repay his methamphetamine debts. Wemh often provided methamphetamine to his customers on consignment, knowing they were redistributing the methamphetamine he sold them.
Wemh also admitted to conspiring with other people to distribute cocaine base, also known as “crack,” that he received from his supplier on occasions prior to December 3, 2022. Wemh stored quantities of methamphetamine, crack, and cocaine at a Greenbrier Street residence in Charleston. Wemh admitted that he frequently obtained these drugs from a safe in the residence, and that a pistol was kept in that safe as well.
Wemh has a long criminal history that includes a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on March 7, 2011. The Court cited Wemh’s criminal history at sentencing.
United States Attorney Will Thompson praised the “dedicated and relentless” work of law enforcement in the case, saying, “This case is a great example of what happens when you put an outstanding team of law enforcement together. Cases such as this are made possible by everyone working together on the same team.”
FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek added, “This is a clear testament to the power of collaboration between the FBI and our federal, state, and local partners. These individuals threaten the safety of our community whether it be from bringing in these poisonous drugs or from the violence often associated with the drug trade.”
Wemh’s sentencing is the latest in a series of convictions in the Operation Smoke and Mirrors case, which has resulted in significant prison time for many of the defendants involved.
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Related Federal Cases
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- David J. Kerns, Katie M. Kerns Sentenced in Heroin Trafficking Bust · West Virginia
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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