CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two Project Parkersburg defendants pled
guilty to federal methamphetamine charges,
announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Todd Land, 41, of Phoenix, Arizona pled guilty to conspiracy
to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Marshall Polan, 31, of Parkersburg, pled
guilty to conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.
“As a result of Project Parkersburg, we seized 121 pounds
of ICE methamphetamine and significant
amounts of a smorgasbord of other drugs,” said United States Attorney Mike
Stuart. “We’ve shuttered this drug
trafficking organization and we’re holding drug dealers like Land and Polan
accountable.”
Land admitted that he facilitated a transaction between
Parkersburg methamphetamine dealers and an individual in Phoenix, Arizona to
transport a large drug shipment from Arizona to Dayton, Ohio where the drugs
were to be divided for distribution in Dayton and in Parkersburg. When the shipment was delayed, Land
traveled to Dayton where he mediated a dispute between the transporter and the
methamphetamine dealers. On September
19, 2018, police intercepted the shipment during a traffic stop of the transporter,
Troy Pastorino. The shipment contained
121 pounds of pure methamphetamine and approximately 6 kilograms (13.2 pounds)
of cocaine.
Polan admitted that he was a member of the conspiracy whose
role was to sell methamphetamine to users in the Parkersburg area.
Land faces 10 years to life in prison and Polan faces up to
20 years in prison when they are sentenced on December 4, 2019. Pastorino pled guilty in February 2019 and
also faces 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on January
23, 2020.
Land and Polan were prosecuted as part of Project
Parkersburg – a major takedown and dismantling of a multi-state drug
trafficking organization responsible for distributing methamphetamine and
heroin. Stuart commended the
investigative efforts of the FBI, the Parkersburg Police Department, the Dayton
Police Department, the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force as
well as assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The long-term, joint investigation resulted
in at least 29 individuals being charged in federal and state court, the
seizure of 121 pounds of ICE methamphetamine, 6 kilograms of cocaine, 217 grams
of heroin, and 290 grams of fentanyl.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over
the hearing. Assistant United States
Attorney Joshua Hanks is handling the prosecution.
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