Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
Three residents of Welch, West Virginia—Terry Headen, Charles “Chuck” Williams, and Taylor Headen—were arrested last week on federal charges alleging their involvement in a methamphetamine distribution network operating in the Western District of Virginia.
According to authorities, these individuals are accused of conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in the region. Their arrests follow earlier detentions this year of six other alleged coconspirators: Stephen Stewart and Eric Mullins from Appalachia, Virginia; Gerald McCoy and Danny Dearry from Coeburn, Virginia; Lisa Poole from Big Stone Gap, Virginia; and Jonathan Lake from Artemus, Kentucky.
Four of these individuals—Mullins, McCoy, Poole, and Lake—have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Mullins also pleaded guilty to an additional methamphetamine charge as well as conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. In July, a federal grand jury indicted Stewart on twelve counts related to methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms offenses connected to this case.
Court documents state that Stewart, Mullins, McCoy, Poole, Lake, Dearry and others traveled or arranged for others to travel from the Western District of Virginia to West Virginia. There they obtained pounds of methamphetamine supplied by Terry Headen, Chuck Williams, and Taylor Headen for redistribution in Virginia. Fentanyl was also supplied at times for further distribution.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, and the West Virginia Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Macon and Corey Hall are prosecuting the case.
"An indictment and criminal complaint are merely an accusation. The defendants who have not pleaded guilty are presumed innocent until proven guilty," according to the release.
