Beckley man pleads guilty to role in drug operation

BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) – A Beckley man has pleaded guilty to his role in a drug trafficking organization, the Department of Justice announced.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ronald Lavaughn Mason, 46, of Beckley, participated in a drug trafficking organization in April and May 2024 and worked with others to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. in and around Beckley. The Justice Department said Mason admitted to providing others with controlled substances that they would then redistribute.

Mason also admitted that he delivered the controlled substances to these individuals and that at other times they visited his home in Beckley.

The Justice Department said that on April 9, Mason sold co-defendant Tilford Joe Bradley Jr. a half-ounce of controlled substances while they were in Mason’s vehicle in Beaver. Mason admitted that law enforcement officers conducting surveillance saw him meet with Bradley for the transaction and that he knew Bradley intended to redistribute the controlled substances, the Justice Department said.

On May 30, agents executed a search warrant at Mason’s home and seized 541 grams of cocaine, 381 grams of fentanyl and $10,293, according to the Department of Justice. Mason admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and planned to distribute them.

The Justice Department said Mason is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 14, 2025, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine.

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