Marquis Allen Pritchett, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, West Virginia 2019

A West Virginia man received a 42-month sentence for his role in a massive methamphetamine distribution ring that brought deadly drugs from Akron to the Mountain State, the SDWVNews has learned.

Marquis Allen Pritchett, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Pritchett admitted to distributing methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia between June and August 2019, with the drugs being transported from Akron to be sold in multiple cities, including Hurricane and Charleston.

As part of his plea agreement, Pritchett admitted to distributing up to 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, which he supplied to other West Virginia-based meth dealers on a recurring basis. He was aware that the methamphetamine he sold would be re-distributed in West Virginia.

A joint investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resulted in Pritchett's arrest and subsequent sentencing. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Ona Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force.

Pritchett's sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution. Pritchett was sentenced on an unknown date in 2019.

The success of this investigation is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in Ohio and West Virginia. United States Attorney Mike Stuart commended the work of the agencies involved, stating, "We are working with law enforcement partners in Ohio and elsewhere to shut down drug trafficking organizations responsible for bringing large quantities of deadly drugs into West Virginia."

This case highlights the ongoing struggle against methamphetamine distribution in West Virginia. The SDWVNews will continue to report on this and other cases involving the distribution of deadly drugs in the Mountain State.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-role-akron-huntington-meth-conspiracy