CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gary Fields, 68, the former mayor of Pratt, West Virginia, admitted to selling the powerful prescription painkiller oxycodone to a confidential informant. On April 23, 2015, Fields sold six 15 mg oxycodone pills to the informant, according to a recent plea agreement.
Fields pleaded guilty to distribution of oxycodone in federal court in Charleston, as announced by U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. The former mayor is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2015.
The investigation into Fields’ activities was conducted by the Kanawha County Sherriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Haley Bunn is handling the prosecution.
The prosecution is part of an ongoing effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.
Fields’ guilty plea is a significant blow to the illicit prescription pill trade in West Virginia. The state has been grappling with an opioid epidemic, with many communities struggling with the consequences of prescription pill abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has made it clear that it will continue to target individuals and organizations involved in the illicit sale and distribution of prescription drugs.
As the investigation into Fields’ activities continues, it is clear that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding individuals accountable for their role in perpetuating the opioid epidemic. By targeting those involved in the illicit sale and distribution of prescription drugs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office hopes to reduce the availability of these deadly substances and prevent further harm to West Virginia communities.
Fields’ guilty plea and upcoming sentencing serve as a reminder that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively pursue and prosecute those involved in the illicit prescription pill trade. The office remains committed to addressing the opioid epidemic and ensuring that those responsible for perpetuating it are held accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Timothy Charles Burnette, Distribution of Oxycodone, West Virginia 2014 · Virginia
- Terrell Moore, Distribution of Oxycodone, West Virginia 2015 · Virginia
- Robert Lamar Payne, Heroin Distribution, West Virginia 2014 · Virginia
- William Sykes, Crack Distribution, West Virginia 2011 · Virginia
- Shawn Lamont McClain, Heroin Distribution, West Virginia 2014 · Virginia
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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