BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Beckley man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization that operated in southern West Virginia.
Deona’tre Capri Dowell, 31, received the sentence on Monday, along with three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
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Federal prosecutors said Dowell played a key role in a drug network that trafficked methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack cocaine in Beckley and surrounding areas.
According to court records, Dowell received an ounce of fentanyl from a co-conspirator at his home on May 25, 2024.
He admitted to arranging the deal and said he received additional fentanyl on consignment later that month, repaying his supplier with drug sales.
Authorities searched Dowell’s residence on May 30, 2024, and found approximately 535 grams of methamphetamine, 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, a Romarm Micro Draco 7.62mm firearm, and a Glock .45-caliber handgun.
Dowell admitted he intended to distribute the drugs.
Dowell was one of 12 people indicted in the case, all of whom have since pleaded guilty.
The investigation was led by the FBI, the ATF, and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which includes officers from the West Virginia State Police, Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and Beckley Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Boggess and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew D. Isabell. The sentencing was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank W. Volk.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative, which targets major drug trafficking and money laundering operations across the country.
