James Evans, a 35-year-old resident of Horsham, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation. The operation was responsible for distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Monongalia County.
Court documents reveal that Evans traveled from the Philadelphia area to Monongalia County to sell controlled substances. During a search warrant execution at an apartment in Morgantown, law enforcement found Evans asleep with a loaded pistol and three additional stolen firearms. They also discovered over 500 grams of methamphetamine, more than 150 grams of fentanyl, and cocaine. Evans has previous convictions related to drugs and firearms.
Following his prison term, Evans will be subject to three years of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley led the prosecution on behalf of the government.
The investigation was conducted by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, which is funded by HIDTA. This task force includes various agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; West Virginia State Police; Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Morgantown Police Department; WVU Police Department; Granville Police Department; and Star City Police Department.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America. The initiative aims to combat illegal immigration and eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators. It integrates efforts from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the case.