MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Brian K. Cochran, on behalf of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, has filed a civil forfeiture action seeking more than $1 Million Dollars in money and assets alleged to be connected to the distribution of controlled substances in Mercer County. Based on available records, this appears to be one of the largest, if not the largest, civil forfeiture actions ever initiated in Mercer County.
“West Virginia law authorizes law enforcement agencies, through the prosecutor’s office, to pursue civil forfeiture of money and property obtained through illegal drug activity,” Cochran said. “Our office has filed almost one hundred civil forfeiture actions over the past five years, working closely with our local, county, and state police agencies to ensure that illegally obtained assets are removed from circulation and handled according to law.” “My office has taken the position that it is better to have the law enforcement agencies use this money for the good of our people than it remaining in the possession of drug dealers.” Cochran said.
According to the recent civil complaint, Tevas Hill was arrested in September 2025 following an investigation into alleged drug trafficking. After the execution of multiple search warrants, officers recovered approximately 140 pounds of suspected controlled substances, including approximately 51 pounds of fentanyl, approximately 66 pounds of methamphetamine, and approximately 23 pounds of marijuana. Law enforcement also recovered over $677,000.00 in U.S. currency, three vehicles, and a $300,000.00 home allegedly purchased with proceeds from illegal activity. Additional firearms seized during the investigation brings the total amount sought in the civil action to more than $1.1 million dollars, which does not include the street value of the drugs seized. According to Cochran, the drugs will be destroyed upon the conclusion of the criminal charges by the West Virginia State Police. “Of course, law enforcement will need to prove to a jury of the civil defendants’ peers that these proceeds were obtained through the illegal sale of drugs before any of the assets are permanently taken from them.”
Hill remains in custody. His wife has also been charged in connection with the investigation, and named in the civil action, and is currently released on bond.
Cochran emphasized that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a criminal proceeding but this civil forfeiture is designed to ensure that money associated with illegal drug activity is not returned to criminal circulation. “State law provides a process that allows these funds to be redirected for lawful public purposes rather than being used to further criminal activity,” he said. “By removing financial incentives, we help reduce the resources available for future drug trafficking and reinforce our broader public safety efforts.”
Under West Virginia law, the prosecutor’s office may allocate up to 10 percent of forfeited assets for certain administrative purposes, such as necessary equipment or software used in the office. In this case and others, the remaining 90 percent is distributed to the investigating agencies to support crime prevention, detection, training, and operational needs. None of the funds may be used for salaries or personal expenses.
“This statutory framework ensures that seized assets support law enforcement and community safety,” Cochran said. “It ultimately reduces the financial burden on local taxpayers and strengthens our collective ability to prevent, deter, and investigate crime in Mercer County.”
Cochran said the task force that he represents is made up of officers from the West Virginia State Police, and the Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Bluefield City Police Department.
