Upshur County residents indicted on drug and counterfeiting charges

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ELKINS, W.Va. – Garry William Moran II and Johnna Dee Courtney, both of Buckhannon, were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on methamphetamine and counterfeit charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Moran, 39, and Courtney, 38, were each indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,” one count of “Counterfeiting,” and one count of “Possession of Counterfeit Obligations.”

Moran and Courtney are accused of distributing more than five grams of “crystal” methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” in May 2019 in Upshur County. They are also accused of making counterfeit money and having 95 counterfeit $100 bills in their possession.

Moran and Courtney each face at least five years and up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000,000 for the drug counts, and each face up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the counterfeit counts.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Lakes Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force and the United States Secret Service investigated. 

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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