FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 12, 2012
KANAWHA COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL OXYCODONE POSSESSION
Defendant accepts delivery package containing oxycodone tablets, arrested by undercover officer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that a Kanawha County man pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. Gary McFaddin, 48, of Tornado, Kanawha County, W.Va., pleaded guilty today in federal court. On June 13, 2012, members of the South Charleston Police Department and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) seized a package while conducting drug interdiction operations at the United Parcel Service (UPS) distribution plant in South Charleston, W.Va. After a drug-detecting K-9 unit gave a positive indication of the presence of drugs on the package, police obtained and executed a search warrant on the package. The package contained approximately 90 30-milligram oxycodone tablets and approximately 99 10-milligram hydrocodone tablets. The package containing the quantity of tablets was addressed to “James Grimm” of Ferrell Road in St. Albans, W.Va.
Following the execution of the search warrant, a law enforcement officer conducted a controlled delivery of the package while disguised as a UPS delivery driver. The defendant admitted that he identified himself as “James Grimm” and accepted delivery of the package. McFaddin further admitted that he intended to distribute the oxycodone and hydrocodone contained in the package.
McFaddin faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine when he is sentenced on December 19, 2012 by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston.
The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is being 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.
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