FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 6, 2012
GEORGIA MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CRACK COCAINE DISTRIBUTION
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that a Georgia man was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for distributing crack cocaine. John Weathers, 26, of Macon, Georgia, previously pleaded guilty in March. The defendant admitted that following a series of phone calls on December 9 and 10, 2010, he stopped by the Smokin’ Aces store that was located in Huntington and sold approximately 24 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover agent working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). At the time of the transaction, Weathers was given $1300 in exchange for the crack cocaine.
Weathers further admitted that during other illegal firearm and drug transactions at the Smokin’ Aces store, he sold a total of two 30-milligram oxycodone pills, three firearms and approximately 124.5 grams of crack cocaine.
This case was prosecuted as part of a yearlong undercover operation that targeted illegal drugs and firearms crimes in the Huntington area. The operation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and assisted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Huntington Police Department, and various other law enforcement agencies. It was announced to the public in March 2011 after a grand jury returned indictments against 55 defendants.
This case was also prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers in communities across the Southern District.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory McVey handled the prosecution. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
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