WHEELING, WV—Seven individuals from Ohio and West Virginia have been charged in federal court in connection with a drug trafficking operation that caused large quantities of heroin to be transported from Chicago to the Ohio Valley, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld of the Northern District of West Virginia and United States Attorney Carter M. Stewart of the Southern District of Ohio announced today.

Frederick Allen McShan, 35, of Steubenville, Ohio, led an extensive, multi-state drug trafficking operation through which large quantities of heroin were transported from Chicago, Illinois into Northern West Virginia and Southern Ohio for redistribution and sale. McShan coordinated an intricate network of individuals to transport and distribute the drugs, including Perrier Duvall Coleman, 19, David McShan, 37, Donae F. Grier, 37, Terrence Lamont Smith, 26, all of Steubenville, along with Christopher Joshua Bishop, 31, and Kerris Deuntay Moncreace, 30, both of Weirton, West Virginia. The investigation involved the use of sophisticated surveillance techniques, undercover operations, and the execution of multiple federal search warrants, including the search of a business in Bellaire that was allegedly operated by one of the defendants.

Proceeds from the illegal drug transactions were used to purchase a variety of luxury items including vehicles and real estate. A large portion of those assets have been seized as part of the investigation.

The defendants will be prosecuted in federal courts in either the Southern District of Ohio or the Northern District of West Virginia. Each of the defendants is presently charged by federal criminal complaint with “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute More Than One Kilogram of a Controlled Substance – Heroin.” They all face between 10 years and life in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Agencies involved in the investigation include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hancock, Brooke, Weirton Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, all HIDTA-funded initiatives, the Jefferson County, Ohio Drug Task Force, the Belmont County, Ohio Drug Task Force, the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the City of Weirton Street Crimes Unit, the Toronto, Ohio Police Department, the Martins Ferry, Ohio Police Department, and the Steubenville, Ohio Police Department.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.