Trending
WHEELING -- Federal indictments announced Wednesday included two Wetzel County residents on drug charges and a Kanawha County man accused of illegally possessing a firearm in Tyler County.
Franklin Keith Dotson, 43, of New Martinsville, was indicted on one count of distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a controlled substance (meth) with intent to distribute and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, according to a release from Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Randolph J. Bernard.
Dotson is accused of having and selling methamphetamine in Wetzel County in April and July, as well as having a 9-millimeter pistol in the county in July, despite being prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions. He faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of as much as $1 million for each of the drug charges and 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms count.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug Task Force; and the Wetzel and Marshall County Sheriff's offices investigated.
Kerry L. Sands, 37, of New Martinsville, was indicted on three counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl and one count of distribution of fentanyl, according to a release from Bernard's office.
Sands is accused of selling heroin and fentanyl in March and April in Wetzel County. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million on each count.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton J. Reid is prosecuting the case. The Marshall County Drug Task Force investigated.
Jalin Tyref Mcarn, 37, of Charleston, was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Despite being prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, Mcarn allegedly had a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol on June 20 in Tyler County. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000, according to Randolph's office.
Reid is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sistersville Police Department investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.