WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – In a major blow to the state’s narcotics trade, Kenyatta Banks, Jr., also known as \”Yatta,\” age 30, of Canal Winchester, Ohio, was sentenced to 57 months of incarceration for his role in a multi-state drug conspiracy.
The Charges
Banks pled guilty to one count of \”Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances\” in August 2020. The charges stem from his involvement in trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in Wetzel County, Ohio, Georgia, and the southern district of West Virginia.
The Investigation
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Martinsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. and Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Sentence
On [date], U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided over the sentencing hearing. Banks will serve 57 months in prison for his crimes.
Organized Crime
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
Background
Banks’ guilty plea marked a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against organized crime. The case highlights the importance of collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies in disrupting the flow of illicit substances into our communities.
The Impact
The sentencing of Kenyatta Banks, Jr. serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of drug trafficking. We must continue to support our law enforcement agencies in their efforts to keep our communities safe.
Related Federal Cases
- Marisa Page, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, West Virginia 2020 · Ohio
- Randy Price, Felon in Possession of Firearm, West Virginia 2019 · Ohio
- Jeremiah Clinton Gray, Gun Possession, West Virginia 2024 · Washington
- Jeremiah Clinton Gray, Federal Gun Possession, West Virginia 2024 · Washington
- James Johnson, Meth Trafficking, West Virginia 2022 · Ohio
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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