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

 

September 24, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Six Named in Federal Heroin Indictment

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — Six individuals were named in an Indictment returned on September 22, 2010, by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that HERBERT DEVAUGHN, also known as “WOP,” age 26, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; GRACE MCLAUGHLIN, age 20, of Pittsburgh; DALE CHRISTOPHER BROWN, age 25, of Granville, West Virginia; TNU, also known as “TY,”; JULLIAN SIMS, also known as “JULES,” age 25, of Pittsburgh; and DEBRA LYNN BOLDEN, age 40, of Morgantown, West Virginia, were named in a 15-count Indictment charging violations of a drug conspiracy involving over 100 grams of heroin and multiple distribution counts in the Monongalia County area.

“This Indictment is significant in that it involves the dismantling of a heroin distribution ring that has been active in the Morgantown area since 2007. It is alleged that for the last three years Herbert DeVaughn has conspired to bring heroin into West Virginia from the Pittsburgh area and to sell it in Monongalia County,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “It is my sincere hope that the efforts of the Mon Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force to disrupt this criminal enterprise will reduce the flow of heroin into Morgantown, as it is a very powerful opiate that can quickly get a stranglehold on a community.”

Specific charges in the Indictment include:

Count One of the Indictment alleges that DEVAUGHN, MCLAUGHLIN, BROWN, “TY,” SIMS, and BOLDEN, conspired to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin from the Summer of 2007 to August 24, 2010, in the Northern District of West Virginia.

DEVAUGHN was named in 10 additional counts of the Indictment. Counts Three, Four, Eight, Nine, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, and Fourteen of the Indictment allege that DEVAUGHN distributed heroin on September 28, 2009; on July 15, 2010; on two occasions on August 4, 2010; and on four occasions on August 24, 2010; in Monongalia County. Count Ten of the Indictment alleges that DEVAUGHN possessed with intent to distribute heroin on August 8, 2010, in Monongalia County. Count Fifteen of the Indictment alleges that DEVAUGHN used two individuals under the age of 18 years to distribute heroin on August 24, 2010.

MCLAUGHLIN was named in four additional counts of the Indictment. Counts Four, Five, Six, and Seven of the Indictment allege that MCLAUGHLIN distributed heroin on July 15, 2010; on July 19, 2010; on July 20, 2010; and on July 27, 2010, in Monongalia County.

BROWN was named in two additional counts of the Indictment. Count Eight of the Indictment alleges that BROWN distributed heroin on August 4, 2010, in Monongalia County. Count Ten of the Indictment alleges that BROWN possessed with intent to distribute heroin on August 8, 2010, in Monongalia County.

“TY” was named in one additional count of the Indictment. Count Nine of the Indictment alleges that TY distributed heroin on August 4, 2010, in Monongalia County.

SIMS was named in one additional count of the Indictment. Count Ten of the Indictment alleges that SIMS possessed with intent to distribute heroin on August 8, 2010, in Monongalia County.

BOLDEN was named in one additional count of the Indictment. Count Two of the Indictment alleges that BOLDEN distributed heroin on September 16, 2009, in Monongalia County.

The Indictment also includes a Forfeiture Allegation wherein the United States seeks the forfeiture of any property that was used, or intended to be used, to commit or to facilitate the commission of the offenses alleged in the Indictment, including a money judgment in the amount of $4,824.00.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000 on Count One of the Indictment; a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 on each of Counts Two through Fourteen of the Indictment; and a maximum penalty of 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000 on Count Fifteen of the Indictment.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley and was investigated by the Mon Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the Morgantown Police Department, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

It should be noted that the charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.