TASK FORCE HELPING BATTLE DRUGS

Man Played Instrumental Role In Creating Group

LEWISBURG -- Even before being elected prosecutor in 2000, Kevin
Hanson knew illegal drugs were a significant problem in Greenbrier County.

Although the county is touted statewide for its beauty and $231
million a year tourism trade, Hanson's work in locking up drug
traffickers belied a darker side of the county that could be seen
just below its pristine surface.

Before drug dealers could declare Greenbrier County "open for
business," Hanson played an instrumental part in the war on drugs in
southern West Virginia by helping create the Greenbrier County Drug
and Violent Crimes Task Force.

Now, five years later, the task force can boast some impressive
numbers. In just over 64 months, it has been involved in 260 cases,
sold 30 seized cars at public auction and taken in nearly $138,000
from drug dealers.

Even more impressive is the interruption in the drug trade in the
county and the countless amount of drugs taken off the street.

In Hanson's opinion, Greenbrier County is "closed for business" for
any would-be drug dealers thinking of setting up shop here.

"For some reason, there seems to be a lot of cocaine in the county,"
Hanson said from his office recently. "We believe some of it was
being brought in straight from Colombia."

The task force was created in July 2001 and composed of officers
from the sheriff's office, State Police and Lewisburg Police
Department. Since then, Lewisburg has withdrawn because of a
manpower shortage, but all law enforcement agencies in the county
work together to help battle drugs in the county.

"Drugs are pretty bad in the county, actually," sheriff's Cpl. J.F.
McFerrin, one of three full-time officers on the task force, said.
"I think our major problem right now is prescription medications and
the illegal sale of OxyContin and hydrocodone and morphine."

Deputy C.B. Baker said Internet pharmacies, where individuals can
buy drugs over the Web, has become a new way for drug dealers to
sell their wares.

"These pharmacies do a consultation over the phone with a doctor and
then they prescribe drugs over the phone," Baker said. "People may
get access to 100 pills at a time and people are selling them on the streets."

The third officer in the task force -- who must remain anonymous due
to his undercover work -- said the price of OxyContin on the street
has risen recently because the risk involved in dealing it.

"On average on the street, pills go for about one dollar per
milligram of whatever they are selling," the officer said. "But with
OxyContin, the price is now about $1.25 per milligram. The demand
plus the risk associated with it is driving up the price."

While OxyContin, also known as "hillbilly heroin," may by the choice
of drugs for some, the officers said some pills are also called
colorful street names such as "beans and robin eggs."

McFerrin said 90 percent of the task force's work deals with using
confidential informants who supply information to the officers and
also engage in drug buys.

In the task force's most celebrated case, one investigation
eventually led to an 82-month federal prison sentence for crack and
cocaine dealer Robert Roman.

After conducting numerous controlled buys of more than an ounce, a
search warrant was obtained for Roman's residence and about 10
ounces of crack and cocaine with a street value of $28,000 were seized.

In addition, jewelry, TVs, cameras and laptop computers were seized,
along with $40,000 in U.S. currency and four vehicles and a
motorcycle. In all, the seizure was worth more than $100,000.

Federal law mandates that any items used to facilitate in the
trafficking of drugs may be seized by authorities and then publicly
sold at auction. Out of those proceeds, the prosecutor's office
receives 10 percent and the task force receives 90 percent.

Roman became a target in 2004 when Lewisburg police officers
responded to a domestic violence call at his residence and found
$40,000 in a shaving kit bag outside the home. When no one claimed
the money, Lewisburg officers filed a forfeiture and took the cash.

Hanson said the cocaine Roman was dealing still had "brush marks on
it" from Colombia, where he believes the drugs originated.

"We estimate that Roman was bringing in no less than a kilo of
cocaine every two weeks into the county," Hanson said. "He was a
major player in the county."

Eventually the case was handed over to federal prosecutors.

Since its inception, the task force has received $137,983 from
auctions and seizures of cash and property from drug dealers. Total
restitution paid to the task force by defendants totals $7,638.

Although their salaries are paid by the county, the task force uses
their forfeiture money for operating expenses without financial aid
from other agencies.

"Drugs are a huge problem not just here, but everywhere," McFerrin
said. "But we could not operate without the cooperation of Sheriff
Roger Sheppard, Kevin Hanson, State Police and the U.S. attorney's office."

The members of the task force urge anyone with information on drugs
in the county to contact them at 647-4856.