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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 15, 2011
DETROIT MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON ON FEDERAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISTRIBUTION CHARGES
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Allen D. Thomas, 22, of Detroit, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison by United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. for conspiracy to distribute quantities of oxymorphone hydrochloride, also known as “Opana,” and oxycodone, also known as “Roxicodone.” Thomas pleaded guilty in June. The defendant admitted that between July 2010 and March 25, 2011, he and other known individuals were involved in a drug trafficking scheme that distributed oxymorphone hydrochloride and oxycodone in and around Charleston, West Virginia. Thomas further admitted that he made frequent trips to Detroit, Michigan to obtain pills and brought them to the Charleston area for distribution. In the days prior to March 25, 2011, the defendant and an associate rented a hotel room at the Microtel Hotel in South Charleston. At the time, the defendant provided his associate with Opana and Roxicodone pills to distribute on his behalf. On March 25, 2011, police arrived at the defendant’s hotel room where he gave oral and written consent for officers to search the room. The defendant admitted that he had approximately $5,000 in his duffel bag. Officers subsequently discovered $5,544 in cash inside the duffel bag, along with 75 40-milligram oxymorphone hydrochloride pills that were hidden in a deodorant container. Law enforcement also found 40 30-milligram oxycodone pills hidden inside a second deodorant container that was kept inside of the defendant’s duffel bag at the time.
The defendant admitted in a statement that between July 2010 and March 25, 2011, he had conspired to distribute, and possessed with intent to distribute a total of 950 40-milligram oxymorphone hydrochloride pills and 100 30-milligram oxycodone pills. Thomas further admitted that he had conspired with a known associate to distribute a portion of the pills. The defendant admitted that during the conspiracy, he provided pills to his known associate to distribute and required that the associate pay him after the sales were completed.
This case was investigated by the Metro Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). Assistant United States Attorney Monica Dillon handled the prosecution.
This case was 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 various federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, remain 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.
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