Meth Ring Busted: Cali Duo, WV Woman Plead Guilty

CHARLESTON, W.V. – A cross-country drug pipeline funneling “ice” into West Virginia is crumbling after three more guilty pleas in federal court, the Department of Justice announced today. The investigation, a joint effort by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, and Homeland Security Investigations, has already landed several key players behind bars.

Gregory Crum, 42, and Diana Salazar Gamboa, 43, both of Paramount, California, admitted to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. They confessed to arranging shipments of the drug into the Southern District of West Virginia and accepting payment for their illicit services. Simultaneously, Beth Hammonds, 52, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty to using the mail to facilitate a drug crime – a crucial component in the organization’s operation.

Federal agents uncovered that since January 2014, pounds of crystal methamphetamine were shipped from California and Nevada, either through the U.S. mail or transported by individuals. Hammonds’ role extended beyond receiving the drugs; she further distributed them within the South Charleston area, then used the postal service to funnel the profits back to Joseph Cooper, another conspirator already sentenced. This intricate network was designed to maximize profit while minimizing risk, until law enforcement intervened.

The consequences are mounting. Cooper is already serving a 14-year federal prison sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Benjamin Childers received 10 years and a month for conspiracy to distribute, while Mark Cobb and Shayne Shamblen each face seven years for the same charge. Mark Bays was sentenced to five years for maintaining a residence used for drug distribution. The investigation continues to yield convictions, with Morgan Light and Harold Lee Parsons having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and facing up to 20 years each. They are scheduled for sentencing June 8th and June 7th, respectively.

David Huffman also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and faces a potential sentence of at least five to 40 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for June 21st. Jon Bowman, who used the mail to facilitate the scheme, faces up to five years and will be sentenced June 1st. Crum faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, while Gamboa could receive between five and 40 years. Hammonds is looking at up to five years behind bars. All three are slated for sentencing on August 3, 2017.

Assistant United States Attorney Haley Bunn is leading the prosecution under the guidance of United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. This case is part of a broader initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to dismantle drug trafficking operations and stem the flow of illegal substances into the region. The office, working alongside federal, state, and local agencies, vows to continue its aggressive pursuit of those profiting from the misery of addiction. Follow SDWVNews on Twitter for updates.

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