Jo-El Rene Torres, Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl, West Virginia 2021

Clarksburg Man Jailed for Heroin and Fentanyl Possession

A 36-year-old Clarksburg man has been sentenced to 37 months in prison after admitting to possessing heroin and fentanyl in Upshur County.

Jo-El Rene Torres, a Clarksburg resident, pleaded guilty in March 2021 to one count of "Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl." He admitted to having the deadly substances in May 2020.

According to prosecutors, Torres had the substances with the intention of distributing them. The incident took place in Upshur County, where authorities were able to crack down on the operation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner on behalf of the government. The investigation involved the Mountain Lakes Drug Task Force, the West Virginia State Police, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, and the Buckhannon Police Department.

U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the case, handing down the 37-month sentence to Torres.

Torres’s sentence serves as a reminder of the harsh penalties associated with heroin and fentanyl possession. As the opioid crisis continues to plague the nation, law enforcement agencies are cracking down on those who would seek to distribute these deadly substances.

In a statement, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard said, "We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities from the scourge of heroin and fentanyl."

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