South Point man convicted on federal marijuana distribution charge
Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 11, 2011
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A South Point man awaits sentencing after being found guilty of conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.
Barry Adkins, 49, was found guilty Thursday by a jury in Huntington. A statement from U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s office said evidence at the trial proved that, beginning in the late fall of 2007, Adkins joined a marijuana conspiracy operating in Zanesville, Ironton and Huntington. Members of the conspiracy testified that, from 2007 until 2009, they received approximately 11,000 pounds of marijuana from a Mexican source of supply and sent approximately $10 million in profit back to Mexico, Goodwin said.
Testimony brought forth at trial showed that Adkins knowingly joined the ongoing conspiracy and was being supplied marijuana for distribution in the Tri-State.
Adkins turned himself into federal authorities on July 28 after he was named in an indictment with seven other people.
The indictment stated that Adkins, along with Rosa Imedla Ledezma, Christopher Clark, Jay Van Meenen, Jeffery Perry, Russell Nelson and Mark Chappalear, allegedly conspired to sell 1,000 kilograms of marijuana since May 2002.
Richard Fleming was also indicted for distributing 100 kilograms of marijuana around the Nitro area.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Metro Drug Unit, Huntington Police Department, Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Agency and the Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Adkins’ sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 29 and he faces 10 years to life in prison and a $2 million fine.