Travis Raynard Edwards, Fentanyl Charge, West Virginia 2023

A Saint Albans man has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking operation.

Travis Raynard Edwards, 30, was sentenced by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, following a lengthy investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration AHIDTA Task Force.

According to court documents, Edwards was arrested in 2018 after DEA task force officers executed a search warrant at his apartment on Shadyside Road in Saint Albans. The search yielded 195 grams of fentanyl, along with two firearms and over $4,000 in cash.

Edwards, who has prior felony convictions for unarmed robbery and delivery of a controlled substance, pleaded guilty to the charges in July. The sentencing marked the culmination of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a federal effort to disrupt the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in Cabell and Kanawha Counties.

United States Attorney Mike Stuart commended the efforts of the DEA AHIDTA Task Force, saying, ‘Fentanyl is deadly. As part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, we are prosecuting every possible case involving the distribution of fentanyl, regardless of quantity, in Cabell and Kanawha Counties. Through these prosecutions we will impact the supply of deadly synthetic opioids into our hardest hit communities and most importantly save lives.’

Edwards’ 8-year sentence is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of fentanyl trafficking. As our community continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic, it is essential that those responsible for perpetuating this crisis are held accountable.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks was responsible for the prosecution of Edwards.

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