Two Sentenced on Federal Charges
BLUEFIELD, W.Va.—United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that two men were sentenced on drug charges in federal court in Bluefield.
“A drug dealer is a drug dealer,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Regardless of whether they are selling opioids or cocaine, we’ll do everything we can to protect West Virginia families and put drug dealers behind bars.” Benjamin Allen III, 31, of Princeton, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for distributing hydromorphone. Allen pled guilty in December, admitting that on January 10, 2017, he distributed a quantity of hydromorphone to an informant in Princeton. He also admitted that he distributed hydromorphone on two other occasions in Princeton in January of 2017 and once in Bluefield in March of 2017, and that on March 28, 2017, he possessed hydrocodone and hydromorphone pills in Princeton with the intent to distribute them. The case was investigated by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Bluefield Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
James Kelsor, 46, of Northfork, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for distributing cocaine. Kelsor also pled guilty in December, when he admitted that on September 30, 2016, he distributed a quantity of cocaine to an informant in Bluefield. He also admitted that he distributed cocaine to an informant in Bluefield on October 3 and October 5, 2016. The Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecution of the cases. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentences.
