Defendants are latest to plead guilty out of nearly two dozen indicted after long-term narcotics investigation
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. - Two men pled guilty today for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Shawn Akiem Anderson, 44, of Mt. Hope, entered his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana. Karl Funderburk, 31, of Teays Valley, entered his guilty plea to using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Anderson and Funderburk are two of 23 defendants indicted in June 2017 after a comprehensive investigation of drug trafficking in Southern West Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the cooperative investigative efforts of several agencies, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Beckley Police Department, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service also provided assistance throughout the investigation.
“This case shows how united and determined we are in fighting the drug scourge," said U.S. Attorney Stuart. “With 23 defendants charged, the results speak for themselves. Drug dealers had better take notice that all levels of law enforcement - federal, state, and local - are working together to make sure that drug crime results in hard time."
Shawn Anderson admitted that between May 2017 and June 28, 2017, he took part in a drug trafficking conspiracy with multiple participants involving the distribution of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Anderson admitted to working with Detria Carter and others to distribute marijuana in and around Raleigh County. Anderson also admitted that he distributed or possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 44 kilograms of marijuana during this time frame.
Karl Funderburk admitted that between August 2016 and March 1, 2017, he assisted Velarian Carter, Detria Carter, and others, in operating a drug trafficking organization. Funderburk also admitted that on March 1, 2017, he was arrested in Charleston, and during a subsequent search, police discovered that he possessed cocaine, crack, and methamphetamine. Funderburk also possessed a Glock 27,.40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, that he admitted was used for protection of his drugs and drug proceeds.
Anderson faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 29, 2018. Funderburk faces at least five years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 29, 2018.
Other individuals implicated as a result of this drug investigation have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing. Cheyenne Fragale and Macon Fragale, two brothers from Boomer in Fayette County, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of oxycodone, and a quantity of heroin. They both face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison when they are sentenced on March 14, 2018. Tiffany Ramsey, also of Boomer, previously entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of heroin, and a quantity of oxycodone. Ramsey faces at least five years and up to 40 years in federal prison when she is sentenced on May 2, 2018. Donald Scalise, of Montgomery, previously entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. Scalise faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on April 25, 2018. Dominic Copney, of Beckley, previously entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and more than 100 grams of heroin. He faces a mandatory minimum of five and up to 40 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on April 17, 2018. Detria Carter, of Beckley, previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. She faces a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than five and up to 40 years in federal prision when she is sentenced on April 24, 2018. Velarian Carter, the brother of Detria Carter, previously entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 280 grams of crack, and more than 100 grams of heroin. He faces a mandatory minimum of not less than 20 years and up to life in federal prison when he is sentenced on April 17, 2018.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is in charge of these prosecutions. The Anderson and Funderburk plea hearings were held before Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of illegal drugs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of illegal drugs in communities across the Southern District.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
