Francisco Chanes, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, West Virginia 2023

A Los Angeles man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a massive drug distribution operation that spanned several states.

Francisco Chanes, 31, was sentenced to 188 months of incarceration for his involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced. Chanes pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and one count of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility.

The investigation, which was led by the FBI's Northern West Virginia Drug Task Force and the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, revealed that Chanes worked with others to distribute the illicit substances from the spring of 2018 until October 2020.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zelda E. Wesley and Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Task Forces have members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff's Office; and, the Morgantown, WVU, Granville and Star City Police Departments.

The investigation was also assisted by other law enforcement partners, including the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office; the FBI in Houston, Texas; the Houston Police Department's Multi Agency Gang Initiative; the United States Postal Inspection Service in Houston; and the FBI and DEA in Los Angeles, California.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which aims to disrupt and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the case. Chanes was sentenced on [no specific date given] in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/los-angeles-man-sentenced-more-15-years-role-drug-distribution-operation