Jimmie Lee Coleman, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, West Virginia 2023

Huntington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

A Huntington man was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine as part of Operation Second Wave, a poly-drug network operating in Kanawha and Fayette counties in West Virginia. 35-year-old Jimmie Lee Coleman was prosecuted for his role in selling over 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Coleman admitted to selling the large quantity of methamphetamine as part of the organization. His sentencing is the latest development in Operation Second Wave, which has seen several other defendants plead guilty and await sentencing.

Other defendants, including Carol Belton, Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., Larry Martin, Rashawn Miller, and Jason Terrell have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Gregory Woods was previously sentenced to 184 months in federal prison on February 8, 2021, while Sammy Joe Fragale, II was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison on January 6, 2021. Steven Matthew Bumpus, Roger Jarea Drake, and Tonya Simerly are awaiting court dates to enter guilty pleas, and Craig Redman and Ronald Lee Thomas III are scheduled for trial on June 1, 2021.

The investigation into Operation Second Wave was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force (CWVDTF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Sr. United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence on Coleman. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution of Coleman, who was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00045 (Miller), 2:20-cr-00153 (Woods), and 2:20-cr-00154 (Terrell et al).

Huntington, W.Va. is a city in West Virginia that has seen a significant impact from Operation Second Wave. The investigation has resulted in the sentencing of several individuals and the disruption of a large-scale poly-drug network.

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