A man from Pennsylvania, who has a previous record of drug offenses, has received a 10-year federal prison sentence for being found guilty of possessing fentanyl with the intention to distribute it in West Virginia.
Jo-El Torres, a 40-year-old resident of Pittsburgh, received his sentencing on Friday after being apprehended during a routine traffic stop in Clarksburg. A K9 officer detected the presence of drugs in Torres’ vehicle.
Officers instructed Torres to exit the vehicle, and he made an unsuccessful attempt to swallow a bag that contained fentanyl and other drugs. Despite his resistance, officers managed to subdue Torres and safely recover the bag.
Torres has been convicted of federal drug charges for the third time, resulting in a substantial sentence. After serving a 10-year prison term, Torres will then be placed under three years of supervised release.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar, and it was thoroughly investigated by the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, the Clarksburg Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police.