William Gregory Chappell, Drug Distribution, West Virginia 2019

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – In a major blow to the state’s narcotics trade, William Gregory Chappell, a 35-year-old man from Cartersville, Georgia, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in a large-scale drug distribution operation that spanned the country from Georgia to West Virginia.

Chappell pleaded guilty in February 2019 to one count of Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances and one count of Use and Carry a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

According to court documents, Chappell was part of a larger conspiracy that involved several co-conspirators. Three other individuals involved in the operation have either pleaded guilty or been sentenced for their roles in the drug trafficking operation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, worked alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Three Rivers Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, the West Virginia State Police, the Bartow County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office, the FBI in Rome, Georgia, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to bring Chappell to justice.

U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the case, handing down the 14-year sentence to Chappell. The defendant will serve 168 months in prison, followed by a period of supervised release.

The case is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in West Virginia and Georgia to combat the scourge of narcotics trafficking. The sentence sends a strong message to those involved in the trade that they will face severe consequences.

Chappell’s sentence marks the latest development in a series of cases related to the same conspiracy. Readers can find related cases at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/georgia-man-sentenced-four-life-sentences-plus-10-years-drug-distribution-resulting and https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/georgia-man-found-guilty-drug-distribution-resulting-death-0.

Defendant’s Name: William Gregory Chappell

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances and Use and Carry a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime

City and State: Clarksburg, West Virginia

Exact Date: February 2019 (plea) and April 2019 (sentencing)

Sentence: 168 months in prison

Defendant’s Age: 35

Defendant’s City and State: Cartersville, Georgia

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