OAK HILL, WV (LOOTPRESS) – An Oak Hill man was sentenced to prison on drug charges.
Anthony Ciliberti, Jr., Prosecuting Attorney for Fayette County, announces that on October 24, 2022, Jessie J. Perry, age 63, of Oak Hill, West Virginia, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Thomas H. Ewing to not less than six years nor more than 30 years in prison for the felony crime of possession of fentanyl with the intent to deliver and to 20 years in prison for the felony crime of conspiracy. Judge Ewing imposed double the maximum sentence upon Perry as Perry had two prior drug-related felony convictions. Judge Ewing also ordered the two sentences be served consecutively, making the Defendant’s sentence a functional 50-year sentence.
Defendant pled guilty to these offenses on August 9, 2022. The Defendant must serve a minimum of 11 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
On January 11, 2021, a confidential informant working with the Central West Virginia Drug and Violent Crime Task Force set up a purchase of controlled substances with a Herbert Byers. Upon meeting, Byers advised he needed to go to another location to purchase the controlled substances and asked the confidential informant to drive him to the residence of Jessie J. Perry. Byers entered the Perry residence and returned shortly thereafter with what was represented to be heroin. The preceding was observed by undercover law enforcement officers who obtained a search warrant for the Perry residence. During the search of the Perry residence, officers located what appeared to be heroin, digital scales, and just over $4,000.00 in U.S. Currency, which included marked U.S. Currency used in the purchase from Byers. Laboratory testing confirmed that the substance found in Perry’s residence was a fentanyl/methamphetamine mixture. It was further determined that Perry’s daughter, Rhonda Cross, was involved in Perry’s drug distribution activities.
Cross pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with the intent to deliver and conspiracy on August 18, 2022, and awaits sentencing. Byers pleaded guilty to the delivery of a controlled substance on September 29, 2022, and awaits sentencing.
This crime was investigated by the Central West Virginia Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department. Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Ciliberti, Jr, prosecuted the case.