William Tyrone Stovall, Distribution of Cocaine Base, West Virginia 2020

A Belmont County man has been caught in a sting operation for selling cocaine base near a protected location.

William Tyrone Stovall, 36, of Bridgeport, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.

The offense occurred on August 2020 near Wheeling Central Catholic High School in Ohio County, West Virginia.

Stovall faces a minimum of one year and a maximum of 40 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $2,000,000.

The actual sentence will be determined by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, taking into account the seriousness of the offense and Stovall's prior criminal history.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is handling the prosecution on behalf of the government.

The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated the case.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided over the hearing.

The defendant's next court appearance will determine the exact sentence he will receive.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/belmont-county-man-admits-drug-charges