Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison on Federal Drug and Gun Charges
Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery Charges

HUNTINGTON, WV—Norman Talley, 36, of Detroit, was sentenced to 210 months in prison yesterday by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers on federal drug and firearms charges. A federal jury sitting in Huntington convicted Talley on four counts of a five-count indictment in November 2010. Talley was found guilty for his role as a co-conspirator in a drug trafficking ring from Detroit to Huntington, West Virginia between May 2009, and July 2009. In July 2009, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at a Spring Road residence in Huntington which found the defendant in possession of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, 15 grams of heroin, and a loaded .40 caliber pistol. Evidence at the defendant’s trial revealed that Talley had distributed drugs from the Huntington Inn Hotel and the Spring Road residence between May 2009, and July 2009. Further evidence at trial revealed that the defendant possessed a firearm after having twice been convicted of felony controlled substance offenses.

This case was investigated by the Huntington Violent Crime and Drugs Task Force. Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Adams handled the prosecution.

Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery Charges

BECKLEY, WV—Edward Delane Miller, 31, of Beckley, pled guilty today before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger to felony bank robbery. On June 7, 2010, Miller entered the First Peoples Bank, located in Mullens, West Virginia, and passed a note to a bank teller which stated, “Yes this is a robbery & if you do not give me all of your money, you will get your head blown off.” In response to the note, the teller handed Miller $2,607 in cash. The defendant subsequently fled the scene after receiving the cash. As a result of an extensive manhunt, Miller was arrested later that same day in Mercer County. Officers found $2,169 in cash of the robbery proceeds under a rock near the scene of Miller’s arrest.

A joint investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department, Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, Mullens Police Department, Matoaka Police Department, West Virginia State Police, and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. Assistant United States Attorney John File is in charge of the prosecution.

Miller faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on June 6, 2011.