Two men have admitted on May 1 to distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine near protected locations in Wheeling, West Virginia, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
The cases involve the sale of dangerous drugs close to schools and a playground, raising concerns about public safety in areas frequented by children and students. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia prosecutes federal crimes and manages civil litigation on behalf of the United States, as reported by the official website.
Jason Hill, 42, from Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty to distributing heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a protected location. Court documents indicate that Hill, also known as “Tay,” sold drugs near Wheeling Central Catholic High School and West Virginia Northern Community College. He faces a potential sentence ranging from one to forty years in prison.
In a separate case, Matthew Luff, 41, from Wheeling, pleaded guilty to distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location. According to court documents, Luff sold over thirteen grams of methamphetamine near Heritage Port Playground in Wheeling. He could be sentenced to between five and forty years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine sentencing after considering relevant guidelines and statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid is prosecuting both cases on behalf of the government.
Investigations were conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force—a HIDTA-funded initiative—and the Wheeling Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia promotes community safety through outreach programs and crime prevention efforts across its judicial district covering thirty-two counties with staffed offices in Wheeling, Clarksburg, Elkins, and Martinsburg according to information provided by its official website (https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv). The office is part of the United States Department of Justice and partners with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies through initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods according to their official website.
