WEST VIRGINIA
The federal government arrested drug traffickers and shut down drug networks during a multi-state crackdown by law enforcement, officials announced Tuesday.- At least 15 individuals involved in the Peterson Organization have been charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
- Fifteen individuals involved in the Peterson Organization were indicted Monday in Cabell County Circuit Court on state charges.
- Additional members of the Peterson Organization will be arrested and charged in Detroit.
- Thirteen individuals involved in narcotics and/or firearms that have been charged in federal indictments in West Virginia.
- About 48 individuals are targeted for arrest on various narcotics, violent crime, and firearms-related charges at the federal or state level.
Federal authorities in Detroit are expected to execute additional arrest warrants and search warrants. Additional charges will be brought against individuals in Michigan, according to officials.
“Today (Tuesday), on tax day, the citizens of Huntington and the surrounding area got their money’s worth, said Huntington Mayor Steve Williams. “Thanks to the coordination of our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies our city is safer.
The investigation revealed that the Peterson DTO had been operating in Huntington for nearly 15 years, trafficking large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine from Detroit to be sold in Huntington in street-level gram quantities.
In August 2017, investigators with the Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West executed a search warrant at Manget Peterson’s residence and an associated hotel room, where Manget Peterson’s workers were distributing heroin, according to officials.
These searches resulted in the seizure of two handguns, over seventy half gram baggies of heroin ready for distribution, and other evidence of drug trafficking. Manget Peterson’s brother, Willie Peterson, was identified as the leader and drug supplier of the organization.
Multiple sources advised that the Peterson Organization distributed kilogram quantities of heroin in Huntington, West Virginia, on nearly a weekly basis, using a network of re-distributors.
Law enforcement learned that the DEA in Detroit had opened an investigation into Willie Peterson, after a search of his residence in July 2017 resulted in the seizure of over 360 grams of fentanyl.
The DEA’s investigations in West Virginia and in Detroit have resulted in investigators seizing additional drug loads and to the identification of two of Willie Peterson’s drug suppliers in Detroit, Michigan.
As of April 3, 2018, law enforcement has seized approximately 760 grams of suspected heroin, 450 grams of suspected fentanyl, and 167 grams of suspected cocaine. The fentanyl seized prior to Tuesday’s actions could have resulted in the death of more than 250,000 people, according to authorities.
Peterson was apprehended in Huntington and his brother, Willie Peterson, was apprehended in Detroit. Malcolm Simmons was also arrested in Detroit.
According to Chris Evans, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Louisville Division Office, “Today’s (Tueday’s) round-up sends a clear message to the people of Huntington and all of West Virginia: drug traffickers who come here to destroy our communities will be aggressively pursued by DEA, in conjunction with West Virginia’s federal, state and local law enforcement components.”
“ATF is committed to working with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to reduce violent crime in Huntington,” said Stuart Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in West Virginia and Kentucky.
“We are building a collaborative approach here in Huntington,” said Interim Huntington Police Chief Hank Dial.
In West Virginia, 15 individuals have been charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl. The investigation is ongoing and could result in additional federal and state charges in the future.