A Charleston, West Virginia, man has been sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison for his role in a major drug trafficking operation. Perry Johnson, Jr., 30, of Dunwoody, Georgia, was sentenced on this date in a Charleston federal court for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson participated in the drug trafficking organization (DTO) by directing large quantities of methamphetamine into the Southern District of West Virginia for distribution to local dealers and customers. On or about November 28, 2022, Johnson conducted phone calls with co-conspirator Alexandria Jasmine Estep during which he arranged to sell multiple pounds of methamphetamine to her.
Johnson arranged for the methamphetamine to be delivered by third parties, including co-defendant Dashounieque Lashay Wright, in a vehicle to Estep’s Charleston residence the following day. After Estep received the methamphetamine from Wright, officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle that had delivered the methamphetamine. Upon conducting a search of that vehicle, officers discovered and seized approximately six pounds of methamphetamine.
Johnson has a criminal history that includes seven prior convictions for controlled substances offenses in Virginia and Kentucky. This is his latest conviction, which carries a sentence of 11 years and 3 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The investigation was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, which was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The program combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement.
Perry Johnson, Jr. will serve his sentence in a federal prison, and his case is one of several resulting from Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. The operation has resulted in the seizure of over 400 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms, and $935,000 in cash.
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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