WV Five Face Charges in Lethal Meth & Fentanyl Ring

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Five residents of Gilmer and Grant Counties are facing federal charges after a drug distribution operation allegedly pumped enough fentanyl onto the streets to kill 20,000 people. U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced the indictment today, revealing a conspiracy that stretched across state lines, linking West Virginia to Maryland.

The five defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in Elkins on August 18, 2020, accused of conspiring to distribute at least 5 grams of methamphetamine and a staggering 40 grams of fentanyl. This isn’t a small-time operation; this is a wholesale delivery of poison into our communities, and we’ll see them held accountable.

Those indicted include Joshua Lee Rutherford, 32, of Linn, West Virginia; Kevin Wayne Fultz, 31, of Maysville, West Virginia; Betty Arlene Chapman, 42, of Cabins, West Virginia; Joshua Aaron Roy, 35, of Maysville, West Virginia; and Kelsey Morgan Ault, 26, also of Maysville, West Virginia. Authorities allege the crimes occurred in Grant County and elsewhere between the fall of 2019 and January 2020 – prime months for desperate addicts and opportunistic dealers.

The investigation, spearheaded by the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force – a HIDTA-funded initiative – suggests a sophisticated network. This task force isn’t just chasing users; they’re going after the source, the people profiting from addiction and death. They’re the ones flooding our towns with this garbage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is leading the prosecution. While an indictment has been handed down, it’s crucial to remember this is only the first step. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but the evidence suggests a deeply troubling pattern of behavior.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth about the drug trade in West Virginia. This isn’t just about numbers and charges; it’s about lives destroyed, families shattered, and communities poisoned. We’ll be watching to see if justice is truly served.

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