Sissonville Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Federal Meth Conspiracy

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Sissonville man pled guilty in federal court for his role in a conspiracy that involved large quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron and sold in West Virginia,  announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Michael Eugene Hicks, 36, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. 

“Hicks is one of 21 individuals indicted for their roles in a large meth trafficking conspiracy,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “My office will use every available resource to shut down the pipeline of deadly drugs coming into West Virginia, prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law, and protect the people of our state.”

Hicks admitted that between the July and September of 2019, he participated in a conspiracy with multiple individuals to distribute methamphetamine in the Sissonville and Charleston areas.  During the conspiracy, Hicks repeatedly obtained large quantities of methamphetamine which were transported from Akron to West Virginia.  Hicks would in turn distribute the methamphetamine to various customers and admitted that he knew some of his customers intended to re-distribute the methamphetamine they were purchasing.

On August 5, 2019, Hicks traveled from West Virginia to the Canton, Ohio area to acquire additional methamphetamine.  After receiving the methamphetamine in a shopping mall parking lot, Hicks was stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Canton.  Hicks was found to be in possession of approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine that he was transporting to West Virginia to sell. 

As part of his plea, Hicks admitted that he was responsible for distributing up to 5 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.    

Hicks faces 10 years to life in prison when sentenced on June 29, 2020.

This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Other agencies which participated and assisted in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Ona Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the United States Marshals Service, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Akron, Ohio Police Department, and the Brecksville, Ohio Police Department.  United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

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