St. Albans Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Sarah J. Ward, 41, of St. Albans, was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ward and her husband Timothy A. Ward admitted that they distributed methamphetamine or aided and abetted each other to distribute methamphetamine to confidential informants on seven occasions in Kanawha County from October 2, 2023, through December 6, 2023. The Wards further admitted that they received money for several of these transactions, and for others received clothing that was shoplifted at their direction. The transactions included the sale of a half-ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a St. Albans bar on October 2, 2023. The Wards also sold a pistol with an obliterated serial number to a confidential informant, which Timothy Ward referred to as a "throwaway" firearm during the transaction.

Timothy A. Ward, 42, was sentenced on June 6, 2024, to eight years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuted the case.

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. 2:23-cr-201.

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