By Sarah Mansheim
On Thursday, Nov. 12, the Greenbrier County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force made what may be the largest drug bust in Greenbrier County history.
Willie Keaton Goodson III, 22, of Ronceverte was arrested after a search warrant was served on his property. Police recovered one pound of pure, uncut heroin, over 2,300 Opana pills at various doses, $110,000 cash and an arsenal of weapons.
“This is a 22-year-old punk who’s created a criminal enterprise,” said Greenbrier County Sheriff Jan Cahill.
Cahill said the drugs are valued at $350,000. The value on the heroin was based on its weight, and the sheriff said that if the heroin had been cut with anything else, which would double its weight, that they “really could add another $200,000 to the value” of the drugs. “Nobody sells heroin uncut.”
“This is probably, without a doubt, our most significant seizure in Greenbrier County,” said Cahill. “This is the real deal. He was a major distributer.”
Goodson was arrested on one count of possession with intent to deliver, and Cahill said numerous charges are pending as the investigation continues. Police are investigating the origin of the 23 guns found in Goodson’s home, which included several hunting rifles, multiple shotguns, sniper rifles, semi-automatic weapons, some high powered, and an uzi fitted with a silencer.
Cahill said the search warrant of Goodson’s home was the result of a lengthy investigation, and the amount of narcotics found onsite was expected.
“We weren’t a bit surprised,” he said.
The Greenbrier County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is an organization consisting of the West Virginia State Police and the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office. They also work with the U.S. Attorney’s office’s pill and heroin initiative.
For now, Cahill said, Goodson is booked on state charges, but he could face federal charges and be tried in federal court, something Cahill hopes happens thanks to its stiffer sentences.
