CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A former corrections officer at the South Central Regional Jail, John Edward Roach II, age 47, of Charleston, has been charged with a federal drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. The charge is contained in a federal indictment that was unsealed today following Roach’s arrest. The indictment alleges that on or about April 11, 2019, Roach possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.
“This allegation is very serious," said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “The allegation that a corrections officer was dealing methamphetamine in a correctional facility is extremely troubling and led to this indictment. We expect every correctional officer to uphold the rule of law unlike the inmates for which they stand guard."
According to public court filings and other documents, Roach received $2,000 as payment to use his position as a corrections officer to smuggle around four ounces of methamphetamine into the South Central Regional Jail. Before Roach could transport the methamphetamine to the jail, police investigators arrested him.
Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman is handling the prosecution. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, Roach faces a possible maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Please note: An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
