Fayette man facing 20 years on drug charges

Police/Courts

March 15, 2013

Fayette man facing 20 years on drug charges

By Wendy Holdren Register-Herald Reporter The Register-Herald Fri Mar 15, 2013, 12:03 AM EDT

A Fayette County man faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for allegedly distributing illegal prescription drugs, according to U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.

Jody Lowell Sowder, 36, of Scarbro, allegedly distributed oxycodone Sept. 25, 2012, in Oak Hill. He was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Beckley.

The indictment also alleges that he possessed a semi-automatic pistol during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted, Sowder could face a $1 million fine for the drug charges in addition to the prison time, and anywhere from five years to life in prison for the firearm possession charge.

The investigation was conducted by the Oak Hill Police Department, the U.S. 119 Drug Task Force and the West Virginia State Police.

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