A late-morning press conference in Clarksburg revealed that Bridgeport’s Mario Blount, who currently is serving as the city’s mayor, was arrested in Weston this morning after being indicted last Wednesday by a federal grand jury convening in Martinsburg.

 

The arrest and indictment stemmed from Blount’s work as a pharmacist, according to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia William J. Ihlenfeld. The arrest comes after the Oct. 9, 2013 raid of the Bridgeport location of Best Care Pharmacy, which Blount is no longer affiliated with.

 

Ihlenfeld said Blount has been charged with three felony counts related with the improper distribution of prescription painkillers. The charges are of conspiracy to possess and distribute schedule II controlled substances, distribution of oxycodone and failure to reporting the filing of a prescription as required under federal law.

 

The arrest took place after 10 a.m. this morning in Weston. Ihlenfeld wasn’t sure if it took place at the Best Care Pharmacy in Lewis County where Blount works. He did say the arrest, to the best of his knowledge was “unremarkable.”  The indictment was unsealed this morning. Ihlenfeld also said that to the best of his knowledge Blount did not know he was going to be arrested today.

 

Two other individuals were also to have been arrested this morning. The pair includes 50-year-old Angela Davis of Bridgeport and her 23-year-old daughter April Davis of Marietta, Ga. They are charged with conspiring with Blount to possess and distribute oxycodone and other prescription painkillers. Angela Davis has also been charged with attempting to fraudulently obtain controlled substances and with the attempted distribution of oxycodone. Ihlenfeld said the elder Davis' attempts were unsuccessful.

 

Blount faces up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy and distribution charges and up to four years on the failure to report a prescription charge that is included in the indictment. Angela Davis and April Davis each face up to 20 years in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

 

Ihlenfeld said evidence that led to the indictment was initially obtained during the October 2013 raid of the Best Care Pharmacy in Bridgeport. Best Care locations in Lumberport and Belington were also raided that day by the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force. Today, Blount’s only affiliation is with the store in Weston.

 

“We were not able to comment at that time on the nature of those search warrants, the reason for those search warrants or what was discovered during those search warrants,” said Ihlenfeld. “What I can tell you today is that as a result of some of the evidence recovered during those searches in October we became aware of some questionable areas of the filling practices of Mr. Blount.”

 

Ihlenfeld said information obtained led investigators to go off in a different direction and investigate whether Mr. Blount was engaged in illegal activity. From that point, Ihlenfeld said witnesses were interviewed, additional evidence was gathered and records were subpoenaed.

 

“We pursued this because my office, myself,  was personally concerned that Mr. Blount was knowingly and willfully engaged in activities that violated state and federal laws and regulations governing the practice of pharmacy,” said Ihlenfeld. “We had concerns about inordinately large quantities of controlled substances being dispensed and combinations of substances being dispensed … We were also concerned about who the pills were being dispensed to and whether or not they even actually existed.”

 

There were five counts listed in the indictment that was unsealed. In count one, the conspiracy charge goes from 2011 to 2014 and involves Blount and the Davis’ as listed above.

 

In count two, the filling of a prescription on July 6 of 2013 that was alleged to be outside the scope of professional practice by Blount. The third count involves an allegation of a forgery of a prescription by Angela Davis on the above date.  The fourth count states the Blount failed to report the prescription filled on that date with the Board of Pharmacy as required by law.

 

The fifth count involves Angela Davis. She attempted to distribute oxycodone.

 

The investigation is ongoing. And it could involve other professionals.

 

Today’s press conference at the Derek W. Hotsinpiller Federal Center on Pike Street also included an appearance by Karl C. Colder, the Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration. He came from Washington, D.C.’s Field Division to Clarksburg and had harsh words for those involved.

 

“Mr. Blount abused the trust of the citizens of Bridgeport and the customers at Best Care Pharmacy. These arrests serve as a warning that the illicit distribution of controlled substances will not be tolerated in Harrison County,” said Colder. “Over approximately three years, Mr. Blount illegally dispensed over 11,000 oxycodone and oxymorphone pills. Today’s arrests are the culmination of a ten month investigation, which truly exemplifies the strong working partnership between DEA and the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force.”

 

Colder oversees Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia. He said what the area is seeing in relation to drugs are “an epidemic.” He said arrests and seizures are going up substantially in the last two to three years, as well as the purity levels of heroin.

 

Ihlenfeld said the case with Blount and Angela and April Davis stems from the July 2013 raid of Dr. Edita Milan’s Main Street Bridgeport doctor’s office. She was indicted and charged for operating a “pill mill” that officials say led to several deaths.

 

“It’s connected to the Dr. Milan case,” said Ihlenfeld, who added that the search warrants were sparked by the Milan incident.

 

Ihlenfeld said the indictments are accusations. He said all that are indicted are innocent until proven guilty. He expected all three to appear before a United States Magistrate today for arraignment and then a schedule to be set for discovery deadlines, filing of motions and a trial date.

 

“Each of these individuals will get their day in court,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

The City of Bridgeport had no comment on the case. The matter is not under their jurisdiction. The case will be prosecuted by John C. Parr. Blount could not be reached. It’s not immediately known who is representing him.

 

Click HERE for the full indictment.

 

Click HERE for information with regard to trial dates and times. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured above is U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld at today's press conference. DEA Special Agent Karl Colder is shown addressing the group below, with 1st Sgt. Randy Monroe of the West Virginia State Police, Bridgeport Detachment, by his side.