Two Individuals Receive Lengthy Prison Sentences for Involvement in Interstate Drug Trafficking Ring

Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for their participation in a widespread drug trafficking operation that spanned multiple states and supplied dangerous narcotics to West Virginia. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, Rex Jenkins, 34, of Southfield, Michigan, and James Elli, 43, of Point Marion, Pennsylvania, have been handed down prison terms for their roles in distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.

Jenkins was convicted by a jury in March 2025 of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and was subsequently sentenced to 124 months in federal prison. Elli received a sentence of 79 months. These sentences are part of a larger effort to dismantle a drug trafficking network based in Philadelphia that targeted Morgantown, West Virginia, with illicit substances. The combined drug quantities attributed to Jenkins and Elli include over 43 grams of fentanyl, 126 grams of methamphetamine, and more than four grams of cocaine. In total, 24 individuals were implicated in this drug conspiracy, with 20, including Jenkins and Elli, having already been sentenced to a cumulative 183 years of imprisonment.

This significant law enforcement action was spearheaded by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, an initiative supported by HIDTA funding. The task force is comprised of multiple federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, and various county and municipal police departments. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley, with Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presiding over the case.

The sentencing of Jenkins and Elli is part of a broader initiative aimed at combating drug trafficking and its devastating impact on communities. Fentanyl, in particular, has been identified as a substance of extreme concern due to its high potency and lethality. This case is also connected to “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide endeavor by the Department of Justice focused on eradicating criminal organizations, safeguarding communities from violent crime, and addressing illegal immigration. The successful prosecution and sentencing of these individuals underscore the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle interstate drug operations that threaten public safety.

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

---