Federal prosecutors in West Virginia’s Northern District honored 19 law enforcement officers and community partners on Monday at an awards ceremony in Clarksburg, recognizing multi-year investigations into large-scale drug trafficking, tax fraud, and child exploitation.
- Multi-Agency Scope: The recognition spans two years of casework following an interim period prior to U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey taking office in October 2025.
- Significant Sentences: Major operations highlighted during the event yielded life sentences and multi-decade federal prison terms for convicted offenders.
- Federal Designations: Task forces involved in the honored investigations have secured critical High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area funding to support central West Virginia operations.
Assistant U.S. attorneys presented awards detailing complex narcotics investigations across the district. Among the honorees, Deputy U.S. Marshals Alex Neville and Derek Patrick received recognition for coordinating arrest warrants.
Detective Mark Trump Jr., a Morgantown County police officer and DEA task officer, was honored for investigating a five-state drug ring led by Lashawn Monroe.
Additional drug enforcement honors went to Mon Metro Drug Task Force commander Kyle Sappington and West Virginia police officer Ryan Gillespie for a wiretap investigation targeting a Philadelphia-based organization operating in Morgantown for nearly a decade. Prosecutors stated that 25 individuals were charged in connection with the ring, accumulating sentences totaling 2,338 months, or approximately 194.8 years.
| Operation / Focus | Key Personnel / Agencies | Outcome / Seizures |
|---|---|---|
| Five-State Drug Ring | Detective Mark Trump Jr. (DEA Task Force) | 17 lbs fentanyl, 21.5 lbs methamphetamine, ~30 firearms; life sentence for leader Lashawn Monroe. |
| Philadelphia Drug Ring | Kyle Sappington & Ryan Gillespie (Mon Metro Task Force) | 25 people charged; total sentences of 2,338 months (~194.8 years). |
| Child Exploitation Cases | Cpl. Keith Lee, Trooper First Class Thunder Nicholson, FBI Agents Edward Ryan jr. & Stephanie Loycano | Sentencing of Stephen David Seeger to 30 years in federal prison in September 2025. |
Prosecutors also acknowledged investigators tackling child sexual abuse material and financial crimes. Cpl. Keith Lee, Trooper First Class Thunder Nicholson, and FBI Special Agents Edward Ryan jr. and Stephanie Loycano received the Champion for Children award, tied to the September 2025 sentencing of Stephen David Seeger to 30 years in federal prison, wdtv.com reported.
FBI Special Agent Angela Bronson was recognized as the case agent in the Oliver Matheny child exploitation production case, which resulted in a 25-year sentence.
The ceremony included lifetime achievement recognitions for veteran law enforcement officials. ATF Resident Agent in-Charge Kenneth Grace was honored for more than 25 years of service, including solving the Stonewood Police Department burglary and executing an undercover storefront operation in Marion County that led to roughly 54 arrests, wdtv.com reported.
Lt. Brian Purkey of the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force was recognized for 35 years of service, notably helping dismantle an open-air drug market operating at the Vets Club on Monticello Avenue in Clarksburg for over a decade. Michael Taylor was honored following his retirement on October 1 after 48 years in public service across state police, local commission, and auditing roles.
U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey emphasized the personal dedication behind these protracted investigations. “Instead of an attaboy at work or in the hallway of the courthouse, we can do something to confirm what their family already suspects, which they’re heroes, and they do amazing work,” Harvey said, according to wdtv.com.
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