Martinsburg. 1.San Francisco is home to the crown of the world largest ever recorded drugs bust. MARTINSBURG, W.Va.Police Chief George Swartwood is proud of the men and women of his force every day, but last month, they outdid themselves. If federal regulators had intervened to limit prescribing of high-strength opioids to those who really needed them, there would have been far fewer pills on the streets. In 2016, a major drug distributor, McKesson abruptly ended its contract with Tug Valley Pharmacy when West Virginias attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, filed a lawsuit against the company accusing it of recklessly distribution millions of pills across the state. The investigation involved federal, state and local law enforcement agencies includingthe Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force; the Berkeley and Jefferson County sheriff's offices; the Martinsburg, Charles Town, Ranson and Hagerstown police departments;the Washington County Drug Task Force; West Virginia and Maryland state police; the FBI; the U.S. . According to the sheriffs office, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorneys office assisted in nabbing $6.5 million in drugs, guns and cash linked to Mexicos notorious Sinaloa Cartel. ELKINS, W.Va. - Elkins officials continue to investigate after arresting three people in the city's biggest meth bust to date. They shipped more narcotic painkillers to Mingo county per head of population than to any other place in the US. Morgantown News Delivered to Your Inbox Each Week! Richmond Weather Cams. The alleged drug trafficking ring is an example of fentanyl coming to the US from China, said US Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia. ROANOKE, Va. - The combined efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies have resulted in the arrests of 13 individuals over the past weeks connected to a variety of drug . West Virginias medical regulators missed opportunities too. Both Ellifritz and Bruce expressed their appreciation for all the departments working together in order to execute this warrant. Theres no way people down there didnt know what was going on. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Marshals Service and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were among the agencies involved in the mass arrest, as well as the West Virginia State Police, Summersville Police Department, Nicholas County Sheriffs Department, Richwood Police Department, Fayette County Sheriffs Department, Fayetteville Police Department, Oak Hill Police Department, Mount Hope Police Department and the Montgomery Police Department. Published: Nov. 28, 2019 at 3:23 AM PST. Before long, people in town were calling the Williamson Wellness Center a pill mill. Officers say they confiscated 20 grams of fentanyl. Sheriff Mellinger said majority of the arrests are felony drug charges along with other related crimes. Its definitely the biggest Ive seen, Chief Bruce said. Choose wisely! If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. KEYSER, W.Va. (WV News) A Keyser man remains jailed after being arrested earlier this month in what law enforcement officials believe is the largest drug bust in Keyser history. He will be sentenced in July. PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Wednesday that his office's "Kensington Initiative" netted its sixth major . Don't Miss it! Manchin Hand-Delivers Tax Cut Warning to the Statehouse. racist or sexually-oriented language. LEESBURG, Va. - The Loudoun County sheriffs office on Wednesday announced that with the help of multiple federal agencies, theyd executed the largest drug bust in county history. Operation Tranquilandia was led by the DEA in 1984. The numbers of prescriptions fell sharply. You couldnt beat him as a person. Rattini is accused of distributing narcotic painkillers illegally to more than 200 pharmacies across West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. JCSO officials say Operation Centennial Sweep totaled 113 warrants for drugs involving methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, prescription narcotics, and marijuana. Success! Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. READ MORE: Trump supporter charged with assault after blowing on women near Virginia Trump club. Daily News, Sports and Events for Marion County. The following year, the FBI and state police raided the Williamson clinic, arrested doctors and cut off the opioid pipeline. 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Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. On Monday, officers arrested Eric Armstrong, 38; Krystal Dellagatta, 30 and Roger Ware, 43, and seized 1.7 pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement officials are encouraging members of the public who have information concerning the suspects involved to contact authorities. We want people to know we are in this fight and were going to keep on it, he said. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Four people from Fairmont were taken into custody with the operation. He also said he was unaware that Williamson was nicknamed Pilliamson, or that a doctor who was one of the main prescribers was known as Pill Billy. It was a profound stop and seizure of extremely hard drugs that have plagued this area and others, according to Martinsburg Police Chief George Swartwood. Millions more were shipped to another pharmacy, Hurleys Drug Store, four blocks away. Be Proactive. 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Bernard had high praise for the cooperative efforts of the agencies involved, saying "they did a tremendous job. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Its hard to believe that was allowed.. Those four were: Michael Figueroa, 28, charged with federal counts of conspiracy to distribute concaine base, aiding and abetting maintaining a drug involved premises and distribution of cocaine base. Police say 33-year-old James Martell Frazier, of Cambridge, Maryland, and Seaford, Delaware, was the leader, supervisor, financier and manager of an illegal drug network that spanned multiple . 2. 3. A Warner Bros. There you go, said Smith. The circle was complete. According to Keyser Police Chief Jared Bruce, the officers confiscated approximately an ounce of cocaine base (crack), 10 ounces of cocaine HCL, two pounds of methamphetamine (ice / crystal meth), approximately 10,000 pressed fentanyl tablets, 150 pounds of marijuana, 327 THC vape cartridges, five firearms, three vehicles and an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency. This is a continual battle; these officers are right back at it tomorrow morning.. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. I tried to use the wire fraud to get everybody, the pharmacies and the doctors. The 30-count indictment alleges the operation trafficked large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride from Hagerstown toBerkeley County, West Virginia, between August2020and June of this year, according to a news release from Bernard's office. . JACKSON COUNTY, WV (WOWK) The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is leading the single largest drug investigation warrant sweeps in West Virginia's history. Winds light and variable.. Clear skies. He said 40 of the 87 arrests will be facing federal charges while 47 face state charges. Be Nice. All in a town of fewer than 3,000 people. JACKSON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Over 100 people are now facing charges after Jackson County Sheriffs Department lead what they say is the largest drug warrant sweep in the history of the state. Report a Closing. Get the news for Mineral County, Keyser and Frankfort delivered to your email on Tuesdays and Fridays! All those arrested were transported to previously established areas for processing before being transported to magistrate courts for their arraignments. Copyright 2021 WSAZ. READ MORE: Virginia massage therapist arrested for sexual battery while on the job. These days, the town has shrunk to 9,889 residents and the economic prospects have dimmed. WVU faculty weigh in on aftermath of chemical spill, Clay County native honored by FBI for accomplishments as Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chocolate chemistry explained by a food scientist, Sweets with a Swiss twist for Valentine's Day, Ask an expert: 7 most common questions about automatic home generators, One A Day: Small Daily Acts of Self-Care Go a Long Way to Health. Its a continual operation and I think its a little bit of a wake up call for a lot of folks in the county, said Sheriff Mellinger. You passed about three hospitals, probably 50 pharmacies, and youre driving 100 miles from Point Pleasant to Kermit to pick up a prescription? The suspects attempted to thwart law enforcement surveillance using Facebook, and encrypted communications apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp, according to the indictment. Nearly 50 people are now being charged after a year-long investigation focused in Duluth, Rochester, and on the Iron . 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