Members of Cocaine Trafficking Organization Indicted on Federal Charges
Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force Investigation Leads to 73-Count Indictment
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 31, 2014 |
MARTINSBURG, WV—A large drug trafficking organization was disrupted as a result of a 73-count federal indictment charging cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, who announced the charges on Monday in Wheeling, said that the lead defendant in the case is Cedric Malachi Jones, also known as “BG,” 32 years old, of Palm Coast, Florida. Jones is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, money laundering, distribution of cocaine and cocaine base, distribution of cocaine and cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a protected location, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Jones is alleged to be the leader of a group that caused controlled substances to be transported from other parts of the country to Keyser, West Virginia, for redistribution. Jones is also alleged to have laundered money that was generated as a result of the drug trafficking. Jones faces a total of 58 counts.
Others named in the indictment include:
- Ebony Ishia Haynes Jack, age 32, of Palm Coast, Florid
- Patrice Dominique Stephens a/k/a “Everett Backstreets,” 34, of Westernport, Maryland
- Paul Harland Ellis, 35, of Keyser, West Virginia
- Tequila L. Smith, 32, of Ranson, West Virginia
- Dixie Sherylann Layman, 40, of Keyser, West Virginia
- Sheena Collins, 26, of Oakland, Maryland
- Travis Sinclair Howard, 34, of Palatka, Florida
- Samaria Alice Clifford, 32, of Keyser, West Virginia
- Robert Lee Jessie, 34, of Keyser, West Virginia
- Christopher Lee Redman, 30, of Keyser, West Virginia
- Adrian Nicholas Sanchez a/k/a “ACE,” 30, of Cumberland, Maryland
- Troy Aaron Wilt, 30, of Keyser, West Virginia
If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in prison on the conspiracy charge, up to 20 years in prison on the money laundering charges, and up to 40 years in prison on any sales of controlled substances that occurred near protected locations. 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 defendant. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jarod J. Douglas. It was investigated by the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, which consists of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations.