BECKLEY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – 13 individuals residing in the Lanark area of Raleigh County were arrested on Jan. 28 following the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force’s months-long investigation, Operation LA Clean-UP.
According to newly-elected Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield, the operation was a collaborative effort of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, West Virginia State Police, Beckley City Police, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Law Enforcement, the United State’s Marshal’s Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
During the operation, 27 firearms were recovered along with approximately 115 grams (1150 individual doses) of Heroin and Heroin that included Fentanyl with a street value of $25,000. Two pounds of Marijuana and 10 grams (100 individual doses) of Methamphetamine werer also recovered.
The 13 individuals arrested during Operation LA Clean-Up have been charged with delivery of a controlled substance or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Those charged include:
James Dillon- Possession with intent to deliver (Heroin)
Kimberly Dillon- Delivery of Heroin (1 count)
Christopher Hall- Delivery of Heroin (2 counts)
Gerald Terry- Delivery of Heroin (2 counts)
Kevin Scruggs- Delivery of Heroin (2 counts)
Leon Smith Jr.- Delivery of Heroin (4 counts)
Tonya Dillon- Delivery of Heroin (1 count)
Charish Sherman- Delivery of Methamphetamine (1 count)
Andrea Reed- Delivery of Heroin (3 counts)
Amy Clendenin- Delivery of Heroin (2 counts)
Stephen Bland- Delivery of Methamphetamine (1 count)
Brandon Bland- Delivery of Heroin (2 counts)
Kristina Moore- Delivery of Heroin 2 counts)
The individuals charged will have a pre-trial hearing in Raleigh County Magistrate Court in 10 days if they cannot make bond. If an individual makes bond, they will be released, and a pre-trial will be held within 20 days.
Hatfield shared that drug trafficking in the Lanark area has been a specific problem for members of the Raleigh County community for some time.
“This task force is the lifeblood of drug prosecution in Raleigh County,” he said. “We are going to be united in the fight against narcotics, and that starts now. The individuals charged will answer for their crimes and will answer for those crimes sooner rather than later.”
Hatfield concluded the press conference stating that he believes quickly arresting individuals involved in drug-related crimes will help deter drug trafficking in the county.
“With an operation like this and the teeth we are giving it, we are hoping it acts as more of a deterrent than that of the past… This investigation targeted the poison that is on our streets.”
