Michael Leigh Benko, Federal Drug Charge, West Virginia 2015

A Beckley man was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for a federal drug charge in West Virginia, authorities said.

Michael Leigh Benko, 33, was found guilty of using a telephone to facilitate a drug deal, according to court records.

The case was investigated by the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

On January 13, 2015, Benko used a cell phone to coordinate the sale of oxycodone to a confidential informant working with law enforcement authorities.

Benko pleaded guilty to the charge in July of 2015 and was sentenced by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.

The case is part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin.

Benko was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for using a telephone to facilitate a drug deal.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of pills and heroin in communities across the Southern District.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/beckley-man-sentenced-federal-drug-charge-2