Last week several people were arrested for trafficking heroin in Kanawha County. Dior Nathan (25 of Detroit, MI), Jonathan Chuangkrud (37 of Charleston, WV), Michelle Pugh (35 of Charleston, WV), and Travis Edwards (29 of Detroit, MI) were arrested as their residences were searched. All had connections to Detroit, Michigan drug dealers in their operations. Additional arrests were made prior to these, and other searches conducted.
The funding for the investigation came from the Kanawha County Commission through the HEAT (Heroin Eradication Associated Task-force) Program. HEAT was begun in June 2014 when $250,000 of Public Safety Grant funds were allocated in response to an increase in heroin use, overdoses, and related criminal activity. HEAT was the first of its type task force in West Virginia to provide a large amount of money for law enforcement operations combating a specific drug problem that affects everyone in the community.
During the course of the investigations the following totals of drugs were seized:
542 grams of heroin
165 grams of fentanyl
150 grams of crack cocaine
60 grams of cocaine
15 grams of methamphetamine
48 grams of marijuana
Over $100,000.00 in heroin was removed from the street, and close to $200,000 in total drugs were seized. The Drug Enforcement Agency Charleston Task Force were also involved in the investigations.
Though not every arrest for drug trafficking is publicized The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office is continually investigating and arresting those distributing heroin in our County. Anyone who suspects heroin activity in their community can call the tip line at (304) 720-4328 (HEAT).
Attached are photographs of drugs seized during the investigation and mugshots of the four arrested referenced above. As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against them are merely accusations. Each is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
