Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Opioid Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jesus Emmanuel Davis, 25, of Charleston, was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of protonitazene and isotonitazene.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 7, 2023, Davis sold five pills to a confidential informant in Charleston. The pills were counterfeit pressed pills with the same markings as 30mg oxycodone pills. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed that the pills contained protonitazene and isotonitazene, synthetic opioids potentially more dangerous and deadly than fentanyl.

Law enforcement officers conducted seven additional controlled buys during which Curon Cameron Cordon sold quantities of the same pills to a confidential informant. Cordon drove the confidential informant to Davis’ residence to obtain the pills for four of those transactions. On June 8, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Davis’ residence. Officers seized 95 of the same pills purchased during the controlled buys from the pocket of a jacket hanging inside Davis’ bedroom closet.

Davis has a criminal history that includes multiple prior convictions including for domestic battery.

Cordon, 24, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on August 1, 2024, to distribution of protonitazene and isotonitazene and awaits sentencing.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-51.

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