Martel Trayvelle Easton, Carfentanil Trafficking, West Virginia 2024

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A dangerous quantity of a deadly opioid has been taken off the streets, thanks to a swift intervention by federal and local law enforcement. Martel Trayvelle Easton, 21, of Akron, Ohio, admitted in federal court today to possessing with intent to distribute over 196 grams of carfentanil – a substance so potent it’s used to tranquilize elephants.

The plea, announced by U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart, reveals the sheer scale of the threat. Carfentanil isn’t just another opioid; it’s a chemical weapon disguised as heroin. It’s 100 times more powerful than fentanyl, and a staggering 10,000 times stronger than morphine. This isn’t addiction; it’s a calculated risk with human life.

“100 times more powerful than fentanyl. 10,000 times more powerful than morphine. An elephant tranquilizer,” Stuart stated bluntly. “If law enforcement had not intervened before these drugs hit the streets of Huntington, many West Virginians would have lost their lives. I so much appreciate law enforcement’s tireless fight against evil. They put their own lives in peril every day in an effort to save the lives of the citizens of our great state.”

The bust unfolded on February 7, 2018, when the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, alongside the Huntington Police Department, executed a search warrant at 1217 10th Avenue. The apartment was a known drug storage house, buzzing with traffic. Easton was inside when officers arrived, immediately attempting to flee through the back door, scattering cash as he ran. A brief struggle ensued before he was subdued and arrested. Officers also recovered approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine during the search.

Easton now faces a harsh reality. He’s looking at a minimum of 10 years, and potentially a life sentence, when he’s sentenced on August 12, 2019. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the guilty plea. Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey is prosecuting the case. This conviction sends a clear message: bringing this poison into West Virginia carries severe consequences.

This case underscores the ongoing opioid epidemic ravaging the state, and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to combat the flow of deadly narcotics. While one dealer is off the streets, the fight is far from over. Grimy Times will continue to track this case and report on the broader battle against drug trafficking in West Virginia.

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