Frank Basenback, Fentanyl Distribution, West Virginia 2024

Fentanyl Dealer Frank Basenback Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison

Huntington, W.Va. – Frank W. Basenback, 37, of Huntington, will spend the next eight years and four months behind bars after being sentenced for distributing fentanyl, a highly addictive and deadly opioid.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Basenback sold approximately 56 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant on the 3300 block of Harvey Road in Huntington in exchange for $1,000 on August 8, 2023. This was not an isolated incident, as Basenback admitted to selling a total of approximately 243 grams of fentanyl to confidential informants at the same location for a total of $4,000 during separate occasions on August 23, 2023, and September 4, 2023.

But that was still not the extent of Basenback’s crimes. On September 14, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his Haynie Road residence and found approximately $42,892 in cash, approximately 2 kilograms of fentanyl in a truck parked outside, and $711 in cash on his person. Basenback admitted that he possessed and intended to distribute the seized fentanyl, and further admitted that the seized cash and $14,608.69 in his bank account were drug proceeds from selling fentanyl.

Basenback’s sentencing comes after a thorough investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States Attorney Will Thompson praised the work of the ATF and commended the efforts of Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Finney and Joseph F. Adams, who prosecuted the case.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence, which will be followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence was a direct result of Basenback’s admissions and the evidence collected by law enforcement.

This sentencing marks another victory in the ongoing fight against the scourge of fentanyl in West Virginia. As the Grimy Times continues to expose the truth behind the opioid crisis, we will keep pushing for tougher penalties and more effective solutions to combat the problem.

Basenback’s case, along with others like it, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of fentanyl and the devastating impact it has on communities. We will continue to report on the stories of those affected by the opioid crisis, and we will hold those responsible accountable.

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