ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA - Rocky Douglas Idleman, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was found guilty today of methamphetamine distribution and firearms charges after a three-day trial, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Idleman, age 39, was found guilty of one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine," one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine," two counts of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm," and one count of “Carry a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime." Idleman committed the crimes from March 2016 to September 2017 in Upshur County and elsewhere.
“I want to thank the jury for their service, our law enforcement partners and our trial team for their hard work. We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who exhibit violent conduct and distribute illegal drugs in our district. There is no place they can hide," said Powell.
Idleman faces 15 years to life incarceration for the charges. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force; the Greater Harrison Drug &Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office; the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office; the Buckhannon Police Department; and the Weston Police Department investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
