PITTSBURGH – A West Virginia man has been arrested and charged in federal court in Pittsburgh with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine after his arrest near Portersville, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced Thursday.
The criminal complaint, filed on October 22, charges Durell Anthony Jones, 33, of Fairmont, West Virginia, with drug conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Brady said, “This is the largest seizure of methamphetamine in the history of western Pennsylvania. Through the hard work of our federal, state and local partners, over 122 pounds of methamphetamine and 10 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $2.5 million, have been taken off the street. We have disrupted a major narcotics trafficking organization.”
According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 21, 2018, Jones was observed by law enforcement officers parking near a tractor trailer with California tags in the back of a gas station in Portersville, Pennsylvania. After opening his trunk and making movements to the rear of his vehicle, he drove a Kia Sedan onto Interstate 79, southbound. A trooper from the Pennsylvania State Police stopped the Kia for a violation of the Pennsylvania motor vehicle laws as it was traveling South on Interstate 79. Jones provided his name and date of birth, and State Police were able to determine that Jones had an active warrant out of Michigan.
According to the complaint, a search of the Kia revealed approximately 55.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 4.58 kilograms of cocaine. The meth and cocaine were located in the trunk of the vehicle in four separate duffle-type bags.
Jones appeared this week in federal court in Pittsburgh. He was ordered detained without bail.
The law provides for a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years and not more than life. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Troy Rivetti and Jeffrey R. Bengel are prosecuting this case.
U.S. Attorney Brady commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the complaint against Jones.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant may not be prosecuted unless, within 30 days, a grand jury has found probable cause to believe that he is guilty of an offense.
source: Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
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