Mercer County women given probation in prescription drug case - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Mercer County women given probation in prescription drug case

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Two Mercer County women were sentenced in federal court for illegally distributing prescription drugs, according to U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.

According to a press release, "Kimberly G. Froy, 22, of Bluefield, W.Va., was sentenced to four years' probation that includes 100 hours of community service for distributing hydromorphone, a powerful prescription painkiller better known as Dilaudid.

Froy previously pleaded guilty in March. Froy admitted to selling hydromorphone to a confidential informant working with the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The illegal pill transaction took place in Bluefield. Angela R. Barnett, 25, of Princeton, W.Va., was sentenced to three years' probation that includes 100 hours of community service for selling hydromorphone.

Barnett previously pleaded guilty in February. Barnett admitted that on August 16, 2011, she sold hydromorphone to an informant working at the direction of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Also in federal court, Scott J. Brown, 37, of Beckley, W.Va., was sentenced to one year and four months in prison. Brown admitted that on July 25, 2011, he sold cocaine to an informant working at the direction of the Beckley Police Department.

Jimmy V. Dozier, 38, of Beckley, W.Va., was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Dozier admitted that on November 4, 2011, he sold cocaine to a confidential informant working at the direction of the Beckley Police Department.

The Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Beckley Police Department conducted the investigations. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over today's sentencings.

Last month, a total of twelve drug dealers were sentenced for illegally distributing prescription drugs and other illegal narcotics as part of the Bluefield Pill Initiative.

The Froy and Barnett matters were prosecuted as part of the Bluefield Pill Initiative. The Bluefield Pill Initiative is a collaborative, multi-agency regional law enforcement effort designed to halt prescription drug trafficking in Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming Counties.

The Bluefield Pill Initiative is led by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming County Sheriff's Departments, and the Bluefield and Princeton Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorneys Miller Bushong and John File are in charge of the prosecutions.