The case involving a Bridgeport resident who was the focus of an investigation involving the distribution of Oxycodone that resulted in the recovery of nearly $1 million saw another form of resolution as the funds recovered as a result of the seizure have been distributed to the agencies involved in the case.

 

Initial work on the case started in March of 2016 and led to the arrest of Bridgeport’s Suhip Ebrahim in Wheeling. Locally, the Harrison County Violent Crime Task Force worked with the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force as well as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The Harrison County Task Force is chaired by Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker.

 

With the case against Ebrahim handled, the funds were appropriately distributed. And the sums proved to be rather large.

 

Locally, The Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force received $281,629.00. Also, the Bridgeport and Clarksburg Police Departments, as well as the West Virginia State Police, all received $28,162.91. Those three groups all have members on the local Task Force.

 

“We’re really pleased with that because the drug task force is self-sufficient and operating on its own funds and this money goes into future drug investigation,” Walker said. “Anyone involved in this line of work will tell you that drug investigations are extremely expensive.”

 

Walker said the money for the Task Force and Bridgeport will go into a forfeiture account for the purpose of drug investigations. He said the money cannot be used for other items such as funding personnel on the Task Force.

 

The near $1 million came in three different discoveries. During the initial arrest of Ebrahim in Wheeling, he not only had a large amount of oxycodone prescription pills with him, but he also had $113,000 in cash. From that point the agencies mentioned above began working together and for a six-day period of near 24-hour a day work, they found evidence that allowed them to obtain search warrants.

 

The search warrants proved successful. One warrant resulted in the discovery of $111,000 at a Clarksburg business, while another warrant on a storage unit in Monongalia County found an incredible $699,000 in cash. Walker said it was the largest cash recovery he’s ever been involved with during his decades of law enforcement service to the community.

 

Ebrahim’s criminal investigation was handled by the United States Attorney’s office and he eventually pleaded guilty. The plea led to a prison sentence of 57 months.  According a press release provided today on this matter, the “seizure of the proceeds of Ebrahim’s illegal activity was processed through the State Prosecutor’s offices in each county where the money was seized.”

 

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