Ihlenfeld Announces Indictments, Shutdown of Major Drug Trafficking Effort

Photo by Joselyn King

WHEELING - A major drug trafficking effort leading from the U.S.-Mexican border to Bellaire and local communities has been shut down, U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced Thursday.

Personne "Rico" McGhee, 52, of Bellaire, and Juan Carlos Magana, 41, of Sinaloa, Mexico both were charged this week with conspiring to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine as the result of law enforcement operations happening Oct. 18, 2022, in Bellaire and Pittsburgh.

Also charged in the same indictment were Roger Allen Woods II, 48 of Bellaire; Zachary Tyler Menough, 31, of Shadyside; and Sherman L. Griffin, 45, of Martins Ferry; as well as Christopher Jason Kirk, 42, of Tracy, California; and Justin Dwayne Martin, 34, and Andres Dominguez, 25, both of San Diego.

Ihlenfeld reported the following was found in the garage at McGhee's home in Bellaire - 75 pounds of cocaine, 19 pounds of methamphetamines, and five pounds of fentanyl.

Additionally, agents recovered $295,038 in cash, five firearms and a dozen vehicles that will be subject to forfeiture.

Ihlenfeld was asked if finding that large a cache of illicit substances in one spot was that common.

"Not at all," he responded. "I don't think any one of us expected to find that much there. It surprised even the most experienced drug officers."

Ihlenfeld termed McGhee "the most notorious drug dealer in the region," and he noted Magana was "his primary supplier."

Ihlenfeld said the investigation by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force took place "over the last couple of years."

He reported on Oct. 18, Kirk boarded a plane from San Diego to Pittsburgh to pick up a package containing $50,000 from Woods, a lieutenant in the McGhee organization. What they didn't know was that members of the Ohio County Task Force were watching the transaction at the Pittsburgh International Airport, as were law enforcement agents in Allegheny County.

Officers surrounded the pair, arrested them and seized the cash, Ihlenfeld said.

The money was intended as payment for drugs from the west coast that were coming to the east coast, he continued. These transactions were happening regularly, and as much as $300,000 a month was going out to the west coast for drugs, Ihlenfeld reported.

The drugs were coming from the west coast to the east coast by tractor-trailer, he said. They would be picked at locations along the Ohio Turnpike and brought locally.

Sometimes a "trap car" next would be used. These vehicles have been modified to conceal contraband in a compartment located under the front seat. The entire front seat would need to be lifted out to find the items, Ihlenfeld explained.

"This was a car provided to him (McGhee) by his contacts at the southwest border," he said.

Among the vehicles seized during the local drug searches were a 2017 Nissan Sentra; a 2020 Polaris Slingshot; a 2009 G-Class Mercedes; a 2006 Acura; a 2013 Buick LaCross; a 2014 BMW; and a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze - all registered to Woods.

Vehicles seized and registered to McGhee included a 2007 Tiffin Allegro Freightliner; a 2006 Bentley Continental; and a 2021 GMC Sierra.

Two other vehicles seized were a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado.

As the arrests were happening in Pittsburgh, searches were simultaneously being conducted of homes and businesses in Bellaire, Martins Ferry and Wheeling. Additional illicit substances were found at other locations, according to Ihlenfeld.

"As a result of this investigation, and as a result of this indictment that has been returned in federal court on Tuesday, this sophisticated multi-million dollar drug distribution network has been dismantled," he continued.

He added the outcome wouldn't have been possible without the work and collaboration of law enforcement agencies whose representatives stood behind Ihlenfeld during his Thursday announcement at the U.S. Federal Building in Wheeling. In attendance were Sheriff Tom Howard; Chief Deputy John Schultz and Major Doug Ernest of the Ohio County Sheriff's Department; Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger; Robert Maynard, acting special agent in charge, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Adkins; Stacy Garrison, resident agent in charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Detective Corporal Dustin Hildebrance and Chief James Zusack of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office; and Moundsville Police Chief Tom Mitchell.

Others involved in the McGhee network who were charged federally prior to this week include Ronald Shaw, 51, of Wheeling (methamphetamine distribution); Jason Wells, 36, of Wheeling (fentanyl distribution); Rocco Pandoli, 34, of Wheeling (cocaine distribution); Ebony Miranda Webb, 34, of Wheeling (cocaine distribution); Chellsie S. Boyer, 32, of Weirton (methamphetamine distribution).