Beckley Man Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison for Key Role in Drug Trafficking Organization (DOJ)

Press Release

BECKLEY, W.Va. - Ronald Lavaughn Mason, 46, of Beckley, was sentenced today to 11 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as "crack." Mason admitted to his major role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as "crack," in Beckley and elsewhere within the Southern District of West Virginia.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Mason participated in the DTO in April and May 2024, working with other individuals to distribute fentanyl and crack in and around Beckley. During phone calls intercepted by law enforcement, Mason arranged transactions for cocaine and fentanyl with as many as 11 other individuals during the time period. As part of his guilty plea, Mason admitted that he supplied other individuals with controlled substances that they would redistribute. Mason further admitted to delivering the controlled substances to these individuals at times, and at other times have them come to his Beckley residence to pick up the drugs.

On April 9, 2024, 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 Bradley for the transaction, and that he knew Bradley intended to redistribute the controlled substances.

On May 30, 2024, officers executed a search warrant at Mason's residence and seized approximately 540 grams of cocaine, 324 grams of fentanyl analogue, 228 grams of fentanyl, and $10,293. Mason admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them.

Mason has a long criminal history that includes two prior drug trafficking convictions, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Mason and Bradley are among 12 individuals indicted on charges alleging the defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack within the Southern District of West Virginia from in or about June 2023 to in or about May 2024. All 12 have pleaded guilty, including two defendants who pleaded guilty to separate charges in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff's Department, and the Beckley Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.

The investigation was part of the Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice's drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-90.

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Updated April 4, 2025