The operation was part of a two-year investigation that focused on Randolph and Barbour counties. The sweep produced a total of 21 arrests on federal warrants and 27 on state warrants.

“Today’s arrest operation represents the culmination of many long hours of work by the state, local and federal law enforcement officers of the Mountain Region Drug Task Force,” said Kenneth Grace, resident ATF agent in charge of the Clarksburg Field Office. “Each law enforcement agency on this task force brings its own unique resources, authorities and knowledge, all of which are critical to fulfilling its shared mission to combat drug traffickers and violent criminals in this community.”

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, Barbour County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police and Elkins City Police Department were all part of the operation that saw 77 law enforcement officers leave a command post early in the morning.

“I would like to say thank you to the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Take Force for their effort of the last two years in working these cases,” said Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon. “None of this could have been done without the hard work and effort of all the agencies involved with this operation. We started out this morning with 77 officers at a briefing, we divided up into teams and the officers went out and started executing the plan that we had in place.”

The Inter-Mountain photo by David Creek Law enforcement at a residence on West Main Street in Elkins as part of a sweep of Randolph and Barbour counties that ended in the arrest of 48 individuals on state and federal charges.

The arrests led to 35 illegal firearms being seized, along with a wide variety of drugs. Many of the individuals taken into custody were transported to the Tygarts Valley Regional Jail, where police had the BATmobile, a DWI trailer, setup to process all the defendants arriving at the location.

“We all had to work together as state, county, city, and federal to make this happen,” said Barbour County Sheriff Brett Carpenter. “This has been a long process and it took so long because it takes a while to get all these cases built up.”

Grace said that the ATF is dedicated to continuing to help local law enforcement in any way possible.

“I’m proud to say that the ATF has been part of the Drug Task Force since its inception,” he said. “These dedicated law enforcement officers work tirelessly everyday in an effort to make Randolph County and Barbour County, and the surrounding communities safe. ATF remains dedicated to our mission of protecting communities from violent criminals, armed drug traffickers, and illegal use and trafficking of firearms.”

According to a press release from the office of United States Northern District of West Virginia Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II, the 21 arrested on federal warrants include:

• Caleb Andrew Beverly, 23, of Philippi.

• Nicholas Joseph Buono, 34, of Philippi.

• Kayla Lynn Jenkins, 27, of Philippi.

• Calvin Crocket Mullins, 29, of Philippi.

• Katrina Ann Sears, 42, of Belington.

• Wendell Dean Beverly, 58, of Philippi.

• Christopher Columbus Mayle, 42, of Philippi.

• Kyle Richard Lantz, II, 38, of Philippi.

• John C. Holliday, 31, Mill Creek.

• Jenny Lynn Wood, 30, of Beverly.

• Matthew Scott Mayle, 35, of Philippi.

• James Richard Cutright, also known as “Jimmy,” 34, of Philippi.

• Noah Jacob Graham, 20, of Philippi.

• Austin Jay Robinson, 22, of Belington.

• Dustin Allen Summerfield, 29, of Beverly.

• Jonathan Andrew Swiger, 33, of Belington.

• Cameron K. Shreve, 43, of Mill Creek.

• Albert Perry Shreve III, 42, of Elkins.

• Gary Roudolph Loy Jr., 48, of Clarksburg.

• Cheyenne Mary Katherine Winning, 29, of Montrose.

• Joshua Dewayne Simmons, 28, of Elkins.

According to the release, the 21 are facing charges that range from distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine to unlawful possession of a firearm. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in Barbour and Randolph counties.

“Methamphetamine continues to be a serious problem in our district. When you combine methamphetamine dealers with firearms, it’s a dangerous combination. I commend all of our law enforcement partners for their hard work on these cases, and their continued partnership to make our communities safer places to live and work,” Ihlenfeld stated in the release.