Prosecutors: 12 indicted as part of alleged drug operation in Kanawha, Fayette

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — Federal prosecutors said 12 people have been indicted in an investigation of a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana in Kanawha and Fayette counties.

A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia on Wednesday said the following are charged in a six -count indictment:

* Jason Michael Terrell, 36, of Mount Carbon;

* Larry Terrence Martin, 31, of Charleston;

* Carol Belton, 61, of Montgomery;

* Steven Matthew Bumpus, 31, of Charleston;

* Jimmy Lee Coleman, 34, of Gauley Bridge;

* Roger Jarea Drake, 31, of Charleston;

* Rashawn Akmed Miller, 36, of Columbus, Ohio;

* William Lee Patton, 62, of Montgomery;

* Craig Edward Redman, 41, of Kimberly;

* Tonya Nichole Simerly, 35, of Montgomery;

* Ronald Lee Thomas, III, 28, of Charleston.

The indictment charges Terrell, Martin, Belton, Coleman, Drake, Miller, Patton and Redman with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from July 2019 to August 2020. The indictment also charges Bumpus, Simerly and Thomas with various drug trafficking crimes.

Earlier this week, defendant Larry Martin’s sister, Brandi Martin, was sentenced in federal court to 188 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In a separate indictment, Gregory Eugene Woods, 43, of St. Albans, was charged with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine. Two additional defendants, Sammy Joe Fragale, Sr., also known as Joe, and Sammy Joe Fragale, Jr., also known as Bubby, were arrested on a federal criminal complaint for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

“Meth. Heroin. Marijuana. The takedown of this network of drug dealers is another major victory for the people of West Virginia,” U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart said. “Long-term targets. Long-term problems. A drug trafficking organization that was fueling terrible addiction, pain, chaos and despair is now shut down. The people of Kanawha and Fayette counties are certainly safer as a result of today’s arrests.”