Parkersburg Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl Offense

 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg woman was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for using the United States Mail to facilitate fentanyl distribution. Audrey Mae Thompson, 40, previously admitted allowing Robert Lamar Bates-Porter to use her residence as a receiving address for shipments of drugs to be distributed in and around Parkersburg.

According to court documents and statements made in court, drug task force officers executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence on Roselyn Avenue in Parkersburg on September 13, 2019, where they seized a kilogram of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of heroin.  The search warrant was the culmination of a long-term investigation conducted by the Major Crimes Task Force in Washington County, Ohio and the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force.  Along with the Roselyn Avenue search warrant, police executed warrants at several locations in Ohio where they recovered more than 200 grams of heroin, additional quantities of fentanyl and several firearms.  Bates-Porter was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 400g or more of fentanyl and sentenced to 130 months in federal prison. 

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the excellent investigative work of the Major Crimes Task Force, the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Senior United States District Judge John. T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks handled the prosecution.