FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. –A trio of men are going to prison for multiple felony drug crimes in Fayette County.
The Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office said Christopher M. Carver, 49 of Bluefield, Demetran “D.D.” Gray, 45, of Oak Hill, and Michael L. Grimmett, 44, of Russellville, were sentenced this week.
Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Ciliberti, Jr. says a two-day jury trial concluded on March 6 where Carver and Gray were convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute between five and 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. Grimmett was convicted of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and misdemeanor conspiracy.
On January 21, 2023, an officer with the Fayetteville Police Department observed a vehicle on U.S. Route 19 that was traveling with no illuminated taillights or registration lights. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and identified Carver as the driver. Gray and Grimmett were passengers in the vehicle. Carver could not provide the officer with a driver’s license, registration, or proof of insurance. The officer then determined that Carver did not have a valid driver’s license.
Upon investigating further, the officer found Carver to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. Carver also told the officer that there were drugs in the vehicle.
The officer did a pat down of Gray and Grimmett and found over $1800 in cash, drug paraphernalia and digital scales on the two men.
Inside the vehicle, the officer located a second set of digital scales, a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine, suspected marijuana, and packaging materials resulting in the arrest of all three occupants of the vehicle.
Laboratory testing confirmed that the officer had seized over 43 grams of methamphetamine.
Circuit Judge Paul M. Blake, Jr. sentenced Carver and Gray to 40 years in prison for the conspiracy conviction and one to 15 years in prison for the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine conviction. Judge Blake ordered the sentences be served consecutively. Judge Blake doubled the conspiracy sentence for both men because of their prior drug related felony conviction. Carver and Gray must both serve 11 years in prison before being eligible for parole.
Grimmett will serve one year in jail for the conspiracy misdemeanor and one to 15 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Those sentencings will be served consecutively. Grimmett will be eligible to apply for probation if he successfully completes the GOALS program, an in-patient substance use disorder treatment program under the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.