Six More Defendants Sentenced to Federal Prison for their Roles in a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Defendants are the latest to be sentenced out of nearly two dozen defendants after long-term narcotics investigation

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. –  Five men were sentenced today to federal prison for their roles in a drug trafficking organization, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Shawn Akiem Anderson, 44, of Mount Hope, was sentenced to 108 months, or 9 years, in federal prison.  Shaun Jones, 40, Jonathan Vincent Moore, 34, and Charles E. Hill, 54, all of Beckley, were sentenced to 120, 97, and 60 months in federal prison, respectively.  Corey Larkin, 38, also of Beckley, was determined to be a career offender and sentenced to 188 months, or 15 years and 8 months, in federal prison. 

Yesterday, Esau Burnett, 39, of Beckley, was sentenced in conjunction with his role in the drug trafficking organization.  Burnett was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison after previously entering a plea to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine.  Velarian Carter will appear tomorrow before Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber for sentencing.

Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of several agencies, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Beckley Police Department, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service also provided assistance throughout the investigation.

“Heroin. Fentanyl. Methamphetamine. Crack. Cocaine. Marijuana. Guns. A career offender. A prison inmate already serving a 20 year sentence still running a drug business back in his hometown,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Raleigh County is no doubt a safer place to live with these drug dealers behind bars.  As a result of great teamwork and a thorough investigation, this drug trafficking organization has been shut down.”

Shawn Anderson previously entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana and admitted that between May 2017 and June 28, 2017, he took part in a drug trafficking conspiracy with multiple participants involving the distribution of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Anderson admitted to working with Detria Carter and others to distribute marijuana in and around Raleigh County. Anderson also admitted that he distributed or possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 44 kilograms of marijuana during this time frame. Funderburk previously admitted that between August 2016 and March 1, 2017, he assisted Velarian Carter, Detria Carter, and others, in operating a drug trafficking organization. Funderburk also admitted that on March 1, 2017, he was arrested in Charleston, and during a subsequent search, police discovered that he possessed cocaine, crack, and methamphetamine. Funderburk also possessed a Glock 27, .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, that he admitted was used for protection of his drugs and drug proceeds.

Shaun Jones previously entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and admitted that between August 2016 and June 28, 2017, he took part in a drug trafficking conspiracy with multiple participants involving the distribution of cocaine and heroin. Jones admitted to working with James Rodney Staples and others to distribute cocaine and heroin in and around Raleigh County. Jones also admitted that on June 28, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence.  During the search officers found over 200 grams of heroin, a quantity of methamphetamine, a quantity of cocaine, and over $50,000 in cash.  Jones admitted he intended to distribute the controlled substances found in his house.  The money seized is being forfeited as the cash represented the proceeds of his illegal drug trafficking activity.

Corey Larkin previously entered a plea to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of heroin.  At his plea hearing he admitted that between August 2016 and June 28, 2017, he participated in a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine and heroin in and around Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia. During this time he admitted to distributing approximately one kilogram of cocaine.  Larkin also admitted that on June 14, 2017, police officers made a traffic stop on a car he was driving.  During the stop, officers seized 133.97 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl, and $2,983 in cash.  Larkin further admitted that on June 28, 2017, police officers executed a search warrant at his residence in Beckley.  Officers found over $8,000 in cash, approximately 41 grams of cocaine, and a kilo press, often used to compress powder cocaine into “bricks.”  Larkin has agreed to forfeit all the cash seized.

Jonathan Moore previously admitted that between August 2016 and June 28, 2017, he took part in the drug trafficking conspiracy with multiple participants involving the distribution of cocaine and heroin.  He further admitted that on April 26, 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of a confidential informant, made a controlled purchase of approximately one ounce of cocaine from Moore at his residence in Beckley.  He also admitted that on June 28, 2017, a search warrant was executed at his residence.  During the search, officers found over 1,500 grams of cocaine, eight firearms, and over $90,000 in cash.  He agreed to forfeit the firearms and over $90,000 in cash that was obtained through the illegal drug trafficking network.

Charles Hill previously entered a plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine.  Hill previously admitted that between August 2016 and June 28, 2017, he participated in a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine and more than 28 grams of cocaine base, or “crack,” in and around Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia.  Hill also admitted to assisting Velarian Carter, Detria Carter, and Rashaun Carter in distributing ‘crack,” in Raleigh County.  During this time he admitted to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute approximately 15 ounces of “crack.”  Hill further admitted to meeting with other members of the drug trafficking organization to discuss and plan the manufacturing of cocaine into cocaine base.  When officers executed a search warrant at Hill’s residence in Beckley on June 28, 2017, they recovered an additional 47.17 grams of “crack” that Hill intended to distribute in the community of Beckley.

Esau Burnett previously admitted that between August 2016 and June 28, 2017, he participated in a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine and more than 28 grams of cocaine base, or “crack,” in and around Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia.  Burnett admitted to assisting in manufacturing cocaine into “crack.”  During this time he admitted to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute approximately 20 ounces  of cocaine.  Burnett further admitted that on June 28, 2017, police officers executed a search warrant at his residence in Beckley.  Officers found $2,797 in cash, and a quantity of “crack.”  Burnett admitted that the cash was obtained through the illegal drug trafficking activity and has agreed to forfeit the cash to the United States.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecutions.  Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentences.

Several other individuals implicated as a result of this investigation have entered guilty pleas to drug charges and are awaiting sentencing. James Rodney Staples, of Woodbridge, Virginia, faces at least 10 years in federal prison and up to life when he is sentenced on August 13, 2018 after entering a plea to conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 280 grams of cocaine base, and more than one kilogram of heroin.  Karl Funderburk previously entered a guilty plea to using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and is also scheduled for sentencing on August 13, 2018.  George E. Brockman, II, of Montgomery, entered a plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, a quantity of cocaine, and a quantity of oxycodone and is scheduled for sentencing on July 25, 2018.  He faces at least five years and up to 40 years in federal prison.

Jonathan O. Brockman of Kimberly, Fayette County, previously entered a plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, a quantity of fentanyl, a quantity of oxycodone, and a quantity of marijuana for remuneration.  David Shaun Coleman of Fayette County entered his plea to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and a quantity of oxycodone.  Rashaun Carter, aka “Show,” of Raleigh County, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base, more than 100 grams of heroin, and a quantity of cocaine, and a quantity of fentanyl.  Each of these defendants face at least five years and up to 40 years in federal prison when they are sentenced on July 26, 2018.

Derrick L. Staples, of Charleston, entered a plea to conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 280 grams of cocaine base, and more than one kilogram of heroin and faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on July 24, 2018.  Shaun L. Givens, of Beckley, entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and faces at least five years and up to 40 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on July 26, 2018.

Several defendants in this case have already been sentenced.  Detria Carter of Beckley, the sister of Velarian Carter, was recently sentenced to 151 months, or 12 years and seven months in federal prison.  Cheyenne Fragale and Macon Fragale, brothers from Boomer in Fayette County, were sentenced to 12 years, and 16 years and 8 months in prison, respectively.  Rory White of Montgomery was sentenced to 125 months in federal prison.  Tiffany Ramsey, also from Boomer, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.  Dominic Copney, of Beckley, has been sentenced to 2 years in federal prison. Donald Scalise, of Montgomery, was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute oxycodone.