Weirton Man Admits to Cocaine & Gun Run

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Lavel L. Hicks, a 43-year-old resident of Weirton, West Virginia, has thrown in the towel, admitting guilt to a slew of drug and firearms offenses. The plea, announced by United States Attorney Bill Powell, paints a picture of a man repeatedly peddling poison while illegally armed.

Hicks pled guilty to two counts of “Distribution of Cocaine Base,” four counts of “Distribution of Cocaine Hydrochloride,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Court records show Hicks was dealing in Brook and Hancock Counties across a disturbing timeframe: November and December of 2017, and again in December 2018. The feds didn’t just catch him moving weight; they found he was doing it while already a convicted felon.

This isn’t Hicks’ first rodeo with the law. He’s a repeat offender, previously convicted of murder in the second degree in Brooke County Circuit Court. Despite that prior conviction, he was found to be in possession of a 9mm pistol – a dangerous combination, and a clear disregard for the law. The fact he was armed while allegedly slinging coke is a particularly troubling element of this case.

Now, Hicks is looking at a potentially lengthy stretch behind bars. Each drug count carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years incarceration and a staggering fine of up to $1,000,000. The firearms charge adds another potential 10 years and a $250,000 fine. However, the ultimate sentence will be determined by Federal Sentencing Guidelines, factoring in the severity of the crimes and Hicks’ already extensive criminal history.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Danae DeMasi-Lemon is leading the prosecution, building a case that clearly resonated with Hicks enough to warrant a guilty plea. The investigation was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force – a HIDTA-funded initiative aimed at dismantling criminal networks in the region.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone oversaw the proceedings. Hicks now awaits sentencing, a reckoning for his actions that could keep him off the streets of West Virginia for a very long time. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the final sentencing.