Two sentenced to prison for drug charges in Fayette County

FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Anthony Ciliberti, Jr., Prosecuting Attorney, announces that on September 24, 2024, Benjamin N. Vargas, age 39, and Stacey D. Norris, age 36, both of Oak Hill, West Virginia, were each sentenced by Circuit Judge Paul M. Bake, Jr. to ten (10) years in prison for the felony crime of conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

Norris plead guilty to this offense on July 26, 2024. Vargas plead guilty to this offense on July 16, 2024. Both Norris and Vargas
must serve a minimum of two and one-half (2.5) years in prison prior to being eligible for parole.

In early June 2023, law enforcement conducted undercover buys of suspected heroin or
fentanyl from Vargas and Norris from a residence on Rodgers Street in Oak Hill on three (3)
occasions. The investigation revealed that Vargas and Norris worked together to arrange sales
and to sell the drugs to a cooperating individual.

Laboratory testing revealed that the drugs sold
by Vargas and Norris were a mixture of fentanyl, xylazine, and methamphetamine.

This crime was investigated by the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Jennifer D. Crane.