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Press Release

Culloden man latest prosecuted as part of heroin-dealing family

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Culloden drug dealer who sold heroin with his family from his home was sentenced today in federal court to three and a half years in prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Sanford Dale Cremeans, 45, previously pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin in October of 2015.

From early 2014 to May of 2015, Sanford Dale Cremeans and his wife, Toni Cremeans, along with their son, Shawn Cremeans, conspired to sell heroin from their residence at 2246 3rd Street in Culloden. On December 2, 2014, a confidential informant working with law enforcement contacted Shawn Cremeans to arrange a heroin purchase. The informant traveled to the Cremeans’ residence and met with Shawn and Sanford Cremeans while they waited for Toni Cremeans to arrive with additional heroin. Once Toni Cremeans arrived, the informant paid Shawn Cremeans and received the heroin from Sanford Cremeans. Sanford Cremeans admitted that he assisted in the sale of heroin from the family residence on numerous other occasions and was responsible for the distribution of up to 100 grams of heroin.

Toni Cremeans previously pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin and faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine when she is sentenced on March 28, 2016. Shawn Cremeans previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and also faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine when he is sentenced on March 7, 2016.

The Huntington FBI Drug Task Force and Cabell County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation of the Cremeans family. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is in charge of the prosecutions. Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.

These cases are being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District.

Updated January 25, 2016

Topic
Drug Trafficking