CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) – A 39-year-old Georgian who was involved in a conspiracy that sent large quantities of drugs to West Virginia – which resulted in a death from a drug overdose – was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison Monday.
US District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh referred to the cooperation of Joel Jimenez, which led directly to the conviction of a co-defendant in the distribution with death count.
Jimenez checked in with Georgia authorities shortly after the body of Courtney DuBois, 20, was found dismembered in a landfill in the Atlanta area. At the time, authorities had no idea what had happened to DuBois and were still trying to identify her.
Investigators believe DuBois died of a fentanyl overdose at a Jane Lew hotel after the defendant Terrick Robinson, 36, gave her a series of fentanyl; Robinson’s half-brother, Seddrick Banks, 28, then came to Jane Lew from Georgia to help transport the body to Georgia, where they dismembered the body and dumped it in a trash can.
Robinson was found guilty of murder and drug and weapon possession in the distribution process and is serving a life sentence. Banks was convicted of complicity in distribution with death, drug and gun charges, and is awaiting conviction after the fact. A fourth defendant, William Gregory Chappell, 34, pleaded guilty to the same drug conspiracy charge as Jimenez. Chappell also pleaded guilty to gun possession charges and is awaiting conviction.
Kleeh and attorney Dan Ringer determined that Jimenez likely put himself in danger for the rest of his life by testifying against Robinson and Banks. The judge made it clear to Jimenez, however, that “You are not a hero and I know you know that.”
While Kleeh doubted that Jimenez could have saved DuBois’ life by calling 911, the judge said “foot soldier” Jimenez was responsible for bringing an enormous amount of toxic drugs from Georgia to all parts of West Virginia. That lasted from the spring of 2018 until Jimenez withdrew from the conspiracy at the beginning of August this year due to the DuBois overdose.
Just because Jimenez came forward before he was even suspected to help authorities figure out what happened, the court didn’t impose much tougher sentences, Kleeh said. Still, the judge wondered if Jimenez could have saved the DuBois family much heartache by buying a burner phone and sending authorities to find Robinson at the hotel with the still intact body.
However, the victim’s father believes that a quick action by Jimenez or one of the other defendants to call 911 could have taken his daughter to an emergency room and saved her life.
“I hope this will haunt you [Jimenez] for the years to come, because it haunts me every day, “said the father.
Two of the victim’s sisters and her mother spoke about their loss, Jimenez’s role in it, and that they advocated some indulgence for him in helping law enforcement to resolve the case.
“Courtney is at peace,” said the mother. “So, you have to find that in yourself like I do. Don’t let this be a monster forever.
The US Assistant Attorney Brandon Flower had requested a 5-year prison sentence to weigh up the gravity of the allegations against Jimenez ‘cooperation.
Morgantown defense attorney Dan Ringer made no specific recommendation on Jimenez’s tenure. Instead, he asked his client to be allowed to spend his time in an institution as close to his home in Georgia as possible; that he will get a chance for drug treatment in prison; and that the court recommends that the Bureau of Prisons place Jimenez in the safest form of detention for his safety.
Ringer described Robinson and Banks as “incredibly violent, heartless people” for their actions after the DuBois overdose.
Jimenez pulled out of the conspiracy on Aug. 9, 2018 when Robinson asked Jimenez and Chappell to get matches, gasoline, and a shovel, Kleeh noted.
The Chappell case is likely to result in a different verdict. While he was leaving for Georgia with Jimenez at this point and Robinson was stranded with the body at the Jane Lew Hotel, Chappell, Banks and Robinson were back at White Hall on September 4, 2018, with another supply of drugs for sale.
It is likely that Flower and US Assistant Attorney Andrew Cogar will push as hard as possible against Banks, who has stood on trial and been convicted. Whether this is a life sentence, like the one his brother faces, will not be known until the probation office finalizes the pre-sentence investigation report.
Banks and Robinson are also likely to appeal their convictions.
All four of the defendants are from Cartersville, Georgia.
In addition to Flower and Cogar, the former US deputy attorney Traci Cook was involved in the protracted persecution of the so-called “Georgia Boys”.
The commander of the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force led the investigation, which involved several authorities from West Virginia and Georgia. Other agencies that have investigated, according to acting US Attorney Randolph Bernard of north west Virginia: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Three Rivers Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force; the West Virginia State Police; Bartow County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; the FBI in Rome, Georgia; and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Jimenez has been sentenced to prison since May 22, 2019. He will be released under custody for 5 years after his detention ends.
