MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A drug trafficking and money laundering organization based in Detroit and operating in five states, including West Virginia, has been shut down after a lengthy investigation.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Matt Harvey said tips led them to the organization that had satellites in Morgantown, Parkersburg, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Mississippi.
Harvey said at a news conference in Morgantown Thursday a total of 28 people face 114 charges. Twenty-six of them are now in custody.
“This was not a small case; this was beyond routine police work,” Harvey said. “This was a high-level multi-state criminal enterprise that has now been dismantled.”
A total of 16 residences across Wood, Preston and Monongalia counties were implicated and searched; six of those property owners were charged in the investigation. The Morgantown-area residences were on Kingwood Street, Airport Boulevard, Chestnut Ridge Road, Rolling Hills Village, Dunkard Avenue, Cherry Street and East Hillview Drive.
“This criminal operation allegedly led by Brendan Bragg, of Detroit, Michigan, was moving methamphetamine, fentanyl, carfentanil and cocaine straight into Morgantown and Parkersburg,” Harvey said.
The total amount of drugs seized is enough to poison millions. Harvey said he’s confident lives were saved through this law enforcement action.
“Agents seized nearly seven pounds of methamphetamine. two pounds of fentanyl and carfentanil mixtures strong enough to kill hundreds of thousands of West Virginians,” Harvey said.
Harvey’s Deputy Criminal Chief Zelda Wesley said many involved in this organization don’t like carrying large sums of cash, so cash apps were used to complete transactions. During raids associated with this operation about $21,000 in cash was confiscated by law enforcement.
“Throughout the period of this indictment we identified approximately $620,000 that was involved through either CashApp or Apple Pay in this organization,” she said.
Harvey said West Virginia is not an easy target for drug dealers and cautioned them to think twice before selling drugs in our communities. Between tips from the public, interdiction operations on highways, or through good police work, Harvey warns drug traffickers they will be caught, charged, and sent to prison.
“For more than two years the homeland security task force was relentless,” Harvey said. “They mapped the network, tracked the movements and identified dealers, the routes, stash houses and leadership.”
Those charged along with Bragg in the 114-count indictment containing multiple drug and money laundering counts are:
- Torianno Alexander, 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Treasure Wooten, 34, of Detroit, Michigan
- Ezavin Blue, 31, of Detroit, Michigan
- Vincent Hill, 38, of Detroit, Michigan
- Austin Hudson, 29, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Frank McKinney, 27, of Highland Park, Michigan
- Stewart Jenkins, 54, of Detroit, Michigan
- Zaire Adams, 25, of Detroit, Michigan
- Adam Mccullough,26, of Cleveland, Mississippi
- Khorie Morris, 27, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Lance Harris, 33, of Detroit, Michigan
- Kayla Ashley, 31, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Cathy Jo Riffle, 32, of Westover, West Virginia
- Ashley Flowers, 49, of Westover, West Virginia
- Rebecca Fletcher, 34, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Brian Willard, 49, of Fairview, West Virginia
- Isabella Rexroad, 29, of Parkersburg, West Virginia
- Keanna Phillips, 29, of Berkley, Michigan
- Alexis King, 44, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Jeffrey Turner, 31, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Darlene Dodson, 46, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Valerie Smith, 37, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Cody Lockhart, 38, of Wallace West Virginia
- Lori Murphy, 37, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Latisha Kelly, 47, of Morgantown, West Virginia
- Brianna Turner, 28, of Reedsville, West Virginia
- Brian Turner, 63, of Reedsville, West Virginia