HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Sissonville man pled guilty in federal
court for his role in a conspiracy that involved large quantities of
methamphetamine which were transported from Akron and sold in West
Virginia, announced United States
Attorney Mike Stuart. Michael Eugene
Hicks, 36, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of
methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of
methamphetamine.
“Hicks is one of 21 individuals indicted for their roles in
a large meth trafficking conspiracy,” said United States Attorney Mike
Stuart. “My office will use every
available resource to shut down the pipeline of deadly drugs coming into West
Virginia, prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law, and
protect the people of our state.”
Hicks admitted that between the July and September of 2019,
he participated in a conspiracy with multiple individuals to distribute
methamphetamine in the Sissonville and Charleston areas. During the conspiracy, Hicks repeatedly obtained
large quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron to West
Virginia. Hicks would in turn distribute
the methamphetamine to various customers and admitted that he knew some of his
customers intended to re-distribute the methamphetamine they were purchasing.
On August 5, 2019, Hicks traveled from West Virginia to the
Canton, Ohio area to acquire additional methamphetamine. After receiving the methamphetamine in a
shopping mall parking lot, Hicks was stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol
in Canton. Hicks was found to be in
possession of approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine that he was
transporting to West Virginia to sell.
As part of his plea, Hicks admitted that he was responsible
for distributing up to 5 kilograms of methamphetamine during the
conspiracy.
Hicks faces 10 years to life in prison when sentenced on
June 29, 2020.
This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Other
agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Ona Violent
Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team
(MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the
United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the
Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio
State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville,
Ohio Police Department. United States
District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F.
Adams is handling the prosecution.
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