1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

 

January 14, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wheeling Resident Sentenced to 8+ Years
on “Crack” Cocaine Distribution Charge

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — A 33 year old Wheeling, West Virginia, resident was sentenced on January 6, 2010, in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. for his role in distributing “crack” cocaine following a five-month investigation conducted by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Acting United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen announced that MICHAEL PEARSON was sentenced to 100 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. PEARSON entered a plea of guilty on September 17, 2009, to one count of the distribution of “crack” cocaine on February 17, 2009, in Wheeling. As part of his plea, PEARSON admitted to the distribution of between 20 and 35 grams of “crack” cocaine and agreed to forfeit a .22 Smith and Wesson revolver, two digital scales and $3,788 in drug proceeds as well as $1,460 and cocaine seized from PEARSON’s residence on April 14, 2009, when a search warrant was executed. The Court enhanced PEARSON’s sentence because of his possession of the firearm and his criminal history. When PEARSON committed this crime, he was on parole from the State of Ohio from a 2001 conviction for robbery and assault in Jefferson County, Ohio. PEARSON was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr. The case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Task Force consists of officers from the Wheeling Police Department and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department.