Catra Nelson, a 48-year-old resident of Zanesville, Ohio, has entered a guilty plea for his involvement in federal drug crimes. The charges include conspiracy to distribute and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.
Court documents reveal that from January 2020 to around March 2021, Nelson collaborated with co-defendant Steven Reger and others to distribute methamphetamine in Parkersburg, West Virginia. On March 23, 2021, Nelson was involved in the sale of approximately 428.1 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Parkersburg.
Nelson's sentencing is set for July 24, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, which could extend to life imprisonment. Additional penalties include five years of supervised release and a potential $10 million fine.
Reger, also aged 48 and from Morgantown, received his sentence on August 24, 2023. After pleading guilty to similar charges, he was sentenced to five years and three months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Parkersburg Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for their investigative work on this case.
The hearing was overseen by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston. The prosecution team includes Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy B. Wolfe, Joshua Hanks, and Negar M. Kordestani.
Further information about this case can be accessed through PACER by searching Case No. 2:22-cr-196 or via the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia.
