BLUEFIELD, W.Va. - A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to federal prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Mercer County, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Alonzo Wooden, 44, of Macungie, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute cocaine and oxymorphone. Wooden was charged as a result of a long-term, multi-state investigation known as Operation X-Nation.
“The takedown of this DTO snared drug traffickers from Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia," said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “All drug traffickers are treated the same in my district. If we catch you peddling your poisons, putting West Virginia children and families in danger, you will be prosecuted."
Wooden previously admitted at a plea hearing in June of this year, that between August 2017 and Aug. 31, 2019, he participated in a DTO operating in Mercer County. During this time period, Wooden worked with other members of the DTO to distribute prescription pills and cocaine in and around Mercer County. More specifically, Wooden admitted to selling oxymorphone pills and cocaine to individuals he now knows were working as confidential informants. Wooden admitted that the informants would call another member of the DTO who would then direct the informants to meet Wooden or other members of the DTO at a specific location. The locations were different trailer parks in Princeton where the other member owned several trailers. When the informants arrived, Wooden sold cocaine on at least one occasion and oxymorphone on three separate occasions.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which is composed of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the Princeton Police Department and the Bluefield Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-00307.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
