Pubdate: Sun, 24 Sep 2006
Source: Register-Herald, The (Beckley, WV)
Copyright: 2006 The Register-Herald
Contact:  http://www.register-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441
Author: Christian Giggenbach, Register-Herald Reporter

TASK FORCE HELPING BATTLE DRUGS

Man Played Instrumental Role In Creating Group

LEWISBURG -- Even before being elected prosecutor in  2000, Kevin 
Hanson knew illegal drugs were a  significant problem in Greenbrier County.

Although the county is touted statewide for its beauty  and $231 
million a year tourism trade, Hanson's work in  locking up drug 
traffickers belied a darker side of the  county that could be seen 
just below its pristine  surface.

Before drug dealers could declare Greenbrier County  "open for 
business," Hanson played an instrumental part  in the war on drugs in 
southern West Virginia by  helping create the Greenbrier County Drug 
and Violent  Crimes Task Force.

Now, five years later, the task force can boast some  impressive 
numbers. In just over 64 months, it has been  involved in 260 cases, 
sold 30 seized cars at public  auction and taken in nearly $138,000 
from drug dealers.

Even more impressive is the interruption in the drug  trade in the 
county and the countless amount of drugs  taken off the street.

In Hanson's opinion, Greenbrier County is "closed for  business" for 
any would-be drug dealers thinking of  setting up shop here.

"For some reason, there seems to be a lot of cocaine in  the county," 
Hanson said from his office recently. "We  believe some of it was 
being brought in straight from  Colombia."

The task force was created in July 2001 and composed of  officers 
from the sheriff's office, State Police and  Lewisburg Police 
Department. Since then, Lewisburg has  withdrawn because of a 
manpower shortage, but all law  enforcement agencies in the county 
work together to  help battle drugs in the county.

"Drugs are pretty bad in the county, actually,"  sheriff's Cpl. J.F. 
McFerrin, one of three full-time  officers on the task force, said. 
"I think our major  problem right now is prescription medications and 
the illegal sale of OxyContin and hydrocodone and  morphine."

Deputy C.B. Baker said Internet pharmacies, where  individuals can 
buy drugs over the Web, has become a  new way for drug dealers to 
sell their wares.

"These pharmacies do a consultation over the phone with  a doctor and 
then they prescribe drugs over the phone,"  Baker said. "People may 
get access to 100 pills at a  time and people are selling them on the streets."

The third officer in the task force -- who must remain  anonymous due 
to his undercover work -- said the price  of OxyContin on the street 
has risen recently because  the risk involved in dealing it.

"On average on the street, pills go for about one  dollar per 
milligram of whatever they are selling," the  officer said. "But with 
OxyContin, the price is now  about $1.25 per milligram. The demand 
plus the risk  associated with it is driving up the price."

While OxyContin, also known as "hillbilly heroin," may  by the choice 
of drugs for some, the officers said some  pills are also called 
colorful street names such as  "beans and robin eggs."

McFerrin said 90 percent of the task force's work deals  with using 
confidential informants who supply  information to the officers and 
also engage in drug  buys.

In the task force's most celebrated case, one  investigation 
eventually led to an 82-month federal  prison sentence for crack and 
cocaine dealer Robert  Roman.

After conducting numerous controlled buys of more than  an ounce, a 
search warrant was obtained for Roman's  residence and about 10 
ounces of crack and cocaine with  a street value of $28,000 were seized.

In addition, jewelry, TVs, cameras and laptop computers  were seized, 
along with $40,000 in U.S. currency and  four vehicles and a 
motorcycle. In all, the seizure was  worth more than $100,000.

Federal law mandates that any items used to facilitate  in the 
trafficking of drugs may be seized by  authorities and then publicly 
sold at auction. Out of  those proceeds, the prosecutor's office 
receives 10  percent and the task force receives 90 percent.

Roman became a target in 2004 when Lewisburg police  officers 
responded to a domestic violence call at his  residence and found 
$40,000 in a shaving kit bag  outside the home. When no one claimed 
the money,  Lewisburg officers filed a forfeiture and took the  cash.

Hanson said the cocaine Roman was dealing still had  "brush marks on 
it" from Colombia, where he believes  the drugs originated.

"We estimate that Roman was bringing in no less than a  kilo of 
cocaine every two weeks into the county,"  Hanson said. "He was a 
major player in the county."

Eventually the case was handed over to federal  prosecutors.

Since its inception, the task force has received  $137,983 from 
auctions and seizures of cash and  property from drug dealers. Total 
restitution paid to  the task force by defendants totals $7,638.

Although their salaries are paid by the county, the  task force uses 
their forfeiture money for operating  expenses without financial aid 
from other agencies.

"Drugs are a huge problem not just here, but  everywhere," McFerrin 
said. "But we could not operate  without the cooperation of Sheriff 
Roger Sheppard,  Kevin Hanson, State Police and the U.S. attorney's office."

The members of the task force urge anyone with  information on drugs 
in the county to contact them at  647-4856.
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