Three are sentenced in drug investigations
By MARK LAW, Staff writerWHEELING - Three people were sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp Jr. in connection with drug investigations in Weirton.
U.S. Attorney Sharon L. Potter said Shareek Colson, 26, of Steubenville was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin in the Weirton area on Jan. 14.
Colson was one of 11 people named in drug indictments in April following an a two-year federal and local drug investigation into heroin trafficking in Steubenville and Weirton.
Potter said the 22-county indictment alleges the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to delivery in excess of 1 kilogram of heroin from May 2006 to April 1.
The case was investigated by the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug and Violent Crime Task Force; Jefferson, Brooke and Hancock sheriff's departments; and Steubenville and Follansbee police.
Mario Rodriguez, 29, of Bronx, N.Y., was sentenced to 151 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of crack cocaine.
Potter said Rodriguez admitted to his involvement in distributing between 35 and 50 grams of crack cocaine from the Wyles Terrace Apartments in Weirton on May 9.
Potter said Rodriguez was sentenced as a career offender, having been convicted of two prior drug felonies in New York in 1999 and 2001.
The case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
Ricky Denson Jr., 22, of Irvington, N.J., was sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin from May 2006 through May 16, 2008, in Weirton.
Potter said Denson was involved in a New Jersey-based heroin organization responsible for distributing heroin in Weirton and Steubenville. Potter said Denson agreed to forfeit any interest, if any, he had to the more than $110,000 of drug proceeds, four vehicles seized in the investigation and firearms and ammunition seized during the investigation.
The case was investigated by the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)
