Four Individuals Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Offenses in Northern West Virginia

Four individuals have admitted their guilt to federal charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Northern Panhandle region of West Virginia. The pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. These cases are part of a broader effort to combat drug trafficking in the area.

Steven Anthony Blatt, 63, and Jeanetta Nicole Sigler, 50, both residents of Paden City, West Virginia, have pleaded guilty to possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. The pair were involved in the sale of methamphetamine across Wetzel and Tyler Counties. Their activities came to light after law enforcement stopped their vehicle following a trip to Morgantown to acquire drugs, at which point 427 grams of methamphetamine were seized.

D’Angelo Jones, 29, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has acknowledged his involvement in possessing heroin and fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Jones was reportedly selling these substances in Ohio County. During an investigation at his residence on Wheeling Island, authorities recovered 20 grams of heroin and fentanyl, a firearm, and $1,200 in cash.

Additionally, Roland N. Copney, 37, of Wheeling, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was identified as a person of interest during an investigation into gunshots on Wheeling Island. A subsequent search warrant executed at his residence yielded over 200 grams of methamphetamine, 12 grams of fentanyl, and ammunition.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton Reid and Jennifer Conklin. The investigations involved the collaborative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug Task Force; the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force; and the Wheeling Police Department. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone oversaw the proceedings.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has highlighted the severe threat posed by fentanyl, a substance that President Donald Trump has designated a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality, even in minimal quantities. This initiative is also aligned with “Operation Take Back America,” a national endeavor by the Department of Justice aimed at dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, protecting communities from violent crime, and addressing illegal immigration.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia

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