Three residents of Welch, West Virginia—Terry Headen, Charles “Chuck” Williams, and Taylor Headen—were arrested last week on federal charges related to the alleged distribution of methamphetamine in the Western District of Virginia. Authorities say these individuals conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine.
Earlier this year, six additional individuals were arrested as part of the same investigation: Stephen Stewart and Eric Mullins, both from Appalachia, Virginia; Gerald McCoy and Danny Dearry from Coeburn, Virginia; Lisa Poole from Big Stone Gap, Virginia; and Jonathan Lake from Artemus, Kentucky.
Four of those previously arrested—Mullins, McCoy, Poole, and Lake—have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Mullins also admitted guilt to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and another methamphetamine charge. In July, a federal grand jury indicted Stewart on twelve counts related to methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms in connection with this case.
Court documents state that Stewart, Mullins, McCoy, Poole, Lake, Dearry and others traveled or arranged for travel from the Western District of Virginia to West Virginia to acquire pounds of methamphetamine supplied by Terry Headen, Chuck Williams and Taylor Headen. The drugs were then redistributed in the Western District of Virginia. Fentanyl was also reportedly distributed at times.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Wise County Sheriff’s Office; Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force; and West Virginia Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Macon and Corey Hall are prosecuting the case.
“An indictment and criminal complaint are merely an accusation. The defendants who have not pleaded guilty are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
