CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Elkview woman was sentenced to federal prison for a federal drug trafficking offense, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Stephanie Barnett, 36, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and five years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
“Barnett was acting as a courier for drug dealers," said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Just like the dealers, she will be going to federal prison. We will prosecute all those bringing deadly drugs into our communities, from the drug source to the courier."
On February 6, 2019, Barnett’s vehicle was pulled over in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, by a Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputy. Barnett initially lied to the deputy about her name and age, and the deputy also smelled burnt marijuana inside the car. The deputy retrieved his K-9 partner, who also indicated that there were narcotics inside the car. Inside the console of the car, officers found a small baggie of methamphetamine. When the officers opened the trunk, they found a large, plastic bag that contained three large bricks of methamphetamine. Each brick weighed approximately two pounds. The methamphetamine was sent to the DEA Mid-Atlantic Lab where it tested as being over 93% pure methamphetamine. Barnett had traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, where she received over six pounds of methamphetamine. She had intended to deliver the methamphetamine to local dealers in Charleston.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner is handling the prosecution.
Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
