Johnna Dee Courtney, Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine, West Virginia 2020

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Johnna Dee Courtney, 41, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, will spend the next ten years behind bars after receiving a 120-month sentence for trafficking methamphetamine and running around with nearly ten grand in fake cash. U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced the sentencing today, a small victory in a state drowning in both drug abuse and increasingly sophisticated fraud.

Courtney pleaded guilty way back in January 2020 – a case stalled by the pandemic, no doubt – to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession of Counterfeit Obligations.” The feds say Courtney wasn’t just holding onto the “ice” – slang for crystal meth – she was actively pushing it on the streets of Upshur County. The amount? More than fifty grams, according to the indictment.

But the meth wasn’t her only hustle. Along with the drugs, Courtney was caught with 95 counterfeit $100 bills. That’s $9,500 in fake money flooding the local economy, hitting small businesses and honest citizens hardest. Investigators haven’t said where she got the bills, or if they were connected to a larger counterfeiting operation, but the Secret Service is involved, which suggests they suspect a wider network.

The bust was a joint effort, spearheaded by the Mountain Lakes Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force and, crucially, the United States Secret Service. It’s rare to see the Secret Service involved in a case this localized, suggesting the counterfeit bills were particularly well-made or part of a larger regional pattern. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower handled the prosecution, building the case against Courtney and securing the lengthy sentence.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh handed down the 120-month sentence, a clear message that West Virginia’s federal courts aren’t tolerant of drug trafficking or financial crimes. While ten years won’t solve the state’s problems, it’s one less dealer and counterfeiter preying on vulnerable communities. Courtney’s sentence serves as a stark reminder that even in rural areas, federal law enforcement is watching.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to sources within the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They’re tight-lipped about potential co-conspirators, but hinted that further indictments could be coming. For now, Courtney is headed to federal prison, leaving behind a trail of broken trust and a community grappling with the consequences of her actions.

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