Armstead William Craig, Distribution of Cocaine Base, West Virginia 2019

Ranson Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Cocaine Distribution

A 42-year-old man from Ranson, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a drug distribution operation. Armstead William Craig, also known as ‘Manny’ and ‘Manny Moo,’ pled guilty to one count of ‘Distribution of Cocaine Base’ in October 2019.

Craig admitted to selling cocaine base for $700 in March 2018 in Jefferson County. The prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which aims to disrupt and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers and their networks.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara K. Omps-Botteicher, C. Lydia Lehman, and Timothy D. Helman prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The investigation involved numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police, and local police departments in Berkeley and Jefferson counties.

Craig’s sentence serves as a clear message that selling drugs in West Virginia comes with severe consequences. ‘For far too long, illegal drugs have exacted a heavy toll on the lives of hard-working West Virginians,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard. ‘The sentence imposed by the court today makes it abundantly clear that selling drugs in the Northern District of West Virginia comes at a heavy price.’

The case is part of an OCDETF Strike Force Initiative, which enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers and their networks.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the case.

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