Evergreen Reporter

A Kanawha County woman and a Michigan man were sentenced today for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Ladonna Rae Abner, 50, of Nitro, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. Trevon Eaarle Godfrey, also known as “Trey,” 28, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for use of a communications facility in committing, causing, and facilitating a felony controlled substance offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 4, 2023, Abner sold approximately 1 gram of fentanyl for $120 to a confidential informant in Nitro. Abner admitted to that transaction and to selling a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant on October 17, 2023. On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Abner and searched her residence where they seized approximately 3.5 grams of suspected fentanyl.

On September 4, 2023, Godfrey received a call from another individual who asked him to conduct a drug transaction with a specific customer. The individual told Godfrey to distribute 10 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine to the customer who would be bringing $500 for the controlled substances. Godfrey admitted that he met the customer at a location in Huntington pre-arranged by the individual and conducted the transaction.

Abner admitted that DTO ringleader Derrell Cashawn Massey or others working at his direction supplied her with approximately 10 grams of fentanyl weekly from June 2022 until her arrest. Godfrey admitted that he participated in the DTO from at least August 2023 through November 2023.

Massey, also known as "Rell" and "Fat Rell," 34, of Detroit, Michigan pleaded guilty on April 22, 2024 to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and awaits sentencing. Abner, Godfrey and Massey are among the 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment charging them with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit into Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.

Abner, Godfrey and Massey are also among the 21 defendants who have pleaded guilty in this case. One other indicted individual pleaded guilty to a related offense separately. The indictment against remaining defendants is pending; an indictment is merely an allegation until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.

United States Attorney Will Thompson announced these sentences while commending investigative work by various agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cabell County Sheriff’s Department; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT); West Virginia State Police; Bureau Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives (ATF); U.S Postal Inspection Service; Charleston Police Department; Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office; Putnam County Sheriff’s Office; Nitro Police Department; St Albans Police Department; South Charleston Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C Chambers imposed these sentences while Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F Adams & Stephanie Taylor prosecuted this case part DOJ's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Established1982 program aims comprehensive multilevel attacks major drug trafficking money laundering organizations keystone DOJ's drug reduction strategy combining resources expertise federal agencies cooperating state local law enforcement principal mission identifying disrupting dismantling serious drug trafficking transnational criminal organizations money laundering presenting significant threat public safety economic national security United States

A copy press release located website U.S Attorney’s Office Southern District West Virginia Related court documents information found PACER searching Case No:3:23-cr-180

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