Two men were sentenced on April 30 for their involvement in a drug trafficking operation that spanned from Philadelphia to Detroit and Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.
Rex Jenkins, 34, of Southfield, Michigan, received a sentence of 124 months in federal prison after being convicted by a jury in March 2025 on charges related to fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine trafficking. James Elli, 43, of Point Marion, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 79 months. According to the announcement from Harvey, Jenkins and Elli were part of a larger group based in Philadelphia distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Morgantown. The total drugs involved between the two men included more than 43 grams of fentanyl, over 126 grams of methamphetamine, and more than four grams of cocaine.
A total of twenty-four defendants were convicted for their roles in this conspiracy; twenty have been sentenced so far to a combined total of 183 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case.
The investigation was conducted by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force—a HIDTA-funded initiative—with participation from multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; local police departments; and university law enforcement units.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes and managing civil litigation on behalf of the United States according to its official website. The office serves thirty-two counties with staffed locations throughout Wheeling, Clarksburg, Elkins, and Martinsburg according to its official website. It also partners with federal as well as state and local law enforcement through initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods according to its official website.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over these proceedings.
