Two men from West Virginia indicted in federal court after being found in Ohio with methamphetamine

Two men from West Virginia were indicted in federal court on methamphetamine charges.

Michael Eugene Hicks, 36 of Charleston, West Virginia, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.

Hicks was stopped on Interstate 77 southbound by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers for numerous traffic infractions on August 5, 2019. He also had an outstanding warrant, according to court documents.

A search of Hicks’ rental vehicle revealed five vacuum-sealed bags on the passenger floorboard totaling approximately 2,314 gram of methamphetamine, according to court documents.

Lanty Carr, 53, of Gassaway, West Virginia, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Carr, on May 31, 2019, possessed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Northern District of Ohio, according to the indictment

The cases are otherwise unrelated.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The Hicks investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Ohio State Highway Patrol and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Joyce.

The Carr case was investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter E. Daly.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.