Felon Sentenced to More than 22 Years for Selling Dangerous Drugs in North Central West Virginia

A Detroit, Michigan man has been sentenced for leading a drug trafficking organization, selling methamphetamine and fentanyl in Harrison County, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.

Emmitt Renand Richardson, 53, was sentenced to 275 months in prison. Following a trial in September 2025, a federal jury found Richardson guilty of multiple methamphetamine and fentanyl charges. Richardson has a history of drug related convictions and was operating under an alias.

"Richardson's ability to sell deadly poison to our community has come to an end," said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. "Because of the great work of our drug task force, a jury found him guilty and now he will spend more than two decades in prison."

For nearly a year, the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force investigated a drug operation led by Richardson centered in Clarksburg West Virginia. Richardson was responsible for drug sales that took place on city streets, as well as from several residences Richardson used to further the operation. Richardson was responsible for nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine and more than three grams of fentanyl sold in the area.

The other three defendants in this case admitted guilt. Randy Joe Jones of Clarksburg was sentenced to 136 months in October 2025 for his role. The remaining defendants will be sentenced at a later date.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Cogar and Will Rhee prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.