BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Three grim figures from Beckley have confessed their roles in a federal drug conspiracy, marking the latest victory in the relentless war on drugs in Southern West Virginia.
Shaun A. Jones, aged 40, and Corey D. Larkin, 38, were amongst those who entered guilty pleas today. Jones admitted to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, while Larkin faced charges for conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of heroin.
34-year-old Jonathan Vincent Moore rounded out the trio, pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. The three are among the 23 defendants indicted in June 2017 following a sweeping investigation into drug trafficking operations across Southern West Virginia.
United States Attorney Mike Stuart lauded the collaborative efforts of numerous agencies, including the FBI and Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, for their role in this historic bust. ‘This case shows how united and determined we are in fighting the drug scourge,’ said Stuart. ‘Drug dealers had better take notice that all levels of law enforcement – federal, state, and local – are working together to make sure that drug crime results in hard time.’
Jones admitted to participating in a conspiracy involving the distribution of cocaine and heroin from August 2016 until June 28, 2017. He faced the grim reality of officers executing a search warrant at his residence on that fateful day, where they found over 200 grams of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cash totaling over $50,000.
Larkin’s involvement was equally sinister. He confessed to distributing approximately one kilogram of cocaine in Beckley between August 2016 and June 14, 2017. His plea also included the forfeiture of over $8,000 found at his residence, along with a kilo press used to compress cocaine into ‘bricks’.
Moore, who admitted to selling approximately one ounce of cocaine to a DEA agent in Beckley on April 26, 2017, faced a fortune in cash and firearms. His plea includes the forfeiture of over $90,000 in cash and eight firearms found at his residence during a search warrant execution.
Jones, Larkin, and Moore each face a minimum of five years up to 40 years in federal prison for their roles in this drug conspiracy.
Related Federal Cases
- Davis Gets 6 Years for Targeting Drug Dealers · West Virginia
- Beckley Woman Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution · West Virginia
- Welch Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Crack Distribution · West Virginia
- Bluefield Kingpins Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Charges · West Virginia
- Princeton Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Deal Arrangement Charge · West Virginia
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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