CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA – A Cleveland, Ohio man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime. James Lavan, 45, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Lavan admitted that on June 12, 2019, members of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant on his girlfriend’s vehicle and seized over 70 grams of heroin from his tool bag in the truck. Lavan admitted he intended to sell the heroin.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrich, Jeremy B. Wolfe and former Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders are handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-00233.
More Crime News
- North Bergen police arrest man in alleged teen kidnappingNorth Bergen police arrest man in alleged teen kidnapping NORTH BERGEN, NJ — A 35-year-old North Bergen man has been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a 17-year-old girl on Wednesday. According to North Bergen Police Chief Robert J. Farley, Jr., the incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. near 79th Street and Bergenline Avenue. The suspect, identified as Roberto Canavalan, faces charges of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities reported that Canavalan was detained at the scene and subsequently taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility to await his court appearance. Witnesses informed police they saw Canavalan running toward the victim, grabbing her, and dragging her several feet away from Bergenline Avenue in an apparent abduction attempt. The victim struggled for approximately two minutes before bystanders assisted her. Three nurses from a nearby doctor’s office and a male passerby heard the girl’s cries for help. Working together, they intervened, successfully freeing her from Canavalan’s grasp. “Responding officers located a female victim, a 17-year-old North Bergen resident, along with several witnesses,” stated the police report. Additional officers identified and arrested Canavalan on
- Police dog sniffs out drugs, leading to arrestsPolice dog sniffs out drugs, leading to arrests WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ – A traffic stop conducted on Tuesday at Highway 34 near the Garden State Parkway led to a drug bust with the assistance of K9 Axle, a 6-year-old German Shepherd trained in narcotics detection. The alert from K9 Axle directed the officers to uncover methamphetamine and fentanyl inside the vehicle. The suspects, Edward Flowers, 47, and Johannes Fort, 36, both from New York, were arrested. They are charged with distribution and possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Following the arrest, both individuals were taken to Monmouth County Jail and are awaiting a future court appearance. Their charges emphasize the consequences of drug distribution and possession as enforced by New Jersey law. Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran commended the officers involved, stating, “I want to commend our dedicated officers and K9 unit for their outstanding work in this drug arrest.” He also acknowledged the crucial role of K9 Axel in the operation. A photograph shows Ptl. Clint Forgach, Ptl. Joseph Antunez, and K9 Axel, highlighting the teamwork behind the arrest
- Toms River cop went on rampage inside ex-boyfriend’s home as new details emerge in courtTOMS RIVER, NJ — A 32-year-old police officer in Ocean County has been arrested and ordered held in jail after she allegedly smashed her way into her ex-boyfriend’s home, assaulted him and a woman inside, and threatened to burn down the residence, authorities confirmed Tuesday. Rebecca Sayegh, a nine-year veteran of the Toms River Police
- Luzerne County man charged with sexual assault of a minorLuzerne County man charged with sexual assault of a minor HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Luzerne County man faces charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a child he communicated with through Facebook messages. Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the arrest and charges on Tuesday. William James Christian Jr., a board member at the Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum, was taken into custody on Tuesday. He is charged with multiple offenses, including unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault, and disseminating explicit sexual material to a minor. Bail for Christian, 30, from Dupont, was set at $125,000 during his arraignment on Tuesday. As a condition of his bail, he is prohibited from having internet access, unsupervised contact with minors, and involvement with the model railroad museum. “This defendant used a common interest — enthusiasm for trains — to groom and prey on a young person,” Attorney General Sunday stated. “The defendant is charged with soliciting sexual messages from the victim, and assaulting them, over a period of many months.” Investigators revealed that Christian exchanged messages with a 15-year-old over a year. The messages varied from discussions about model trains to sexual comments and imagery. The physical assaults reportedly
- Schumer pledges fight against U.S. citizenship requirement for electionsWASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that the SAVE Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, will not advance in the Senate, declaring the legislation “dead on arrival” and comparing it to discriminatory Jim Crow-era laws. “The SAVE Act is DOA,” Schumer said during a floor