Six co-defendants have been convicted and sentenced to prison time in Bluefield Pill Initiative
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. - The lead defendant in a Bluefield pill distribution conspiracy was sentenced yesterday to five years and eleven months in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to a federal drug charge, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Thirty-four-year-old Carlos R. Ivy, of Bluefield, previously pleaded guilty in August to distribution of oxycodone. On Feb. 22, 2013, Ivy distributed oxycodone to an associate in exchange for cash. Ivy was charged with seven counts contained in a 51-count indictment returned in May.
The May indictment named a total of sixteen defendants who were charged with various drug-related felonies. Ivy, along with six co-defendants, have previously pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and sentenced to federal prison. The following defendants have also received prison terms:
* Elizabeth Ann Stewart, 30, of Matheny, Wyoming County, W.Va., was sentenced on Tuesday to six months in prison. Stewart previously pleaded guilty in August to distribution of oxycodone.
* Tonya Lynn Goode, 35, of Matheny, Wyoming County, W.Va., was sentenced on Tuesday to 2 years in prison. Goode previously pleaded guilty in August to distribution of oxycodone.
* Danny Lee Decker, 42, of Mullens, Wyoming County, was sentenced on Dec. 9 to one year and three months in prison. Decker previously pleaded guilty in July 30 to using a telephone to commit a drug crime.
* Kathy Burchett, 38, of Welch, McDowell County, W.Va., was sentenced on Dec. 3 to 1 ½ years in prison. Burchett previously pleaded guilty in August to using a telephone to commit a drug crime.
* Anthony Lee Madison, 23, of Bluefield, Va., was sentenced on Dec. 3 to 2 years and three months in prison. Madison previously pleaded guilty in July to using a telephone to commit a drug crime.
* Edgar Junior Ponce, 32, of Oceana, Wyoming County, W.Va., was sentenced on Dec. 3 to 2 years in prison. Ponce previously pleaded guilty in July to using a telephone to commit a drug crime.
The sentences were handed down by Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber in Bluefield.
The cases were brought as part of the Bluefield Pill Initiative, a collaborative, multi-agency regional law enforcement effort designed to halt prescription drug trafficking in Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming counties. The Bluefield Pill Initiative is led by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Bluefield and Princeton Police Departments.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
