HUNTINGTON — A federal indictment unsealed Thursday names a man and woman with participating in the distribution of heroin that killed a Proctorville, Ohio, man in November 2007.

The two-count indictment named James Damon Mays, 37, and Samantha Mays, 35. Both have been arrested.

Both are charged with conspiring to distribute heroin between May 2007 and November 5, 2007, in Huntington. Count two states they aided and abetted each other Nov. 5, 2007, in distributing heroin to Daniel Wagoner. The 34-year-old drug user died the same day as a result.

A Tuesday traffic stop led to West Virginia State Police arresting James Mays. One day later, the U.S. Marshal’s C.U.F.F.E.D. Task Force arrested Samantha Mays at a Barboursville residence, according to a press release issued by the Task Force.

Both were initially incarcerated at the Western Regional Jail. James Mays remains in that facility pending resolution of state charges.

Records state Samantha Mays made an initial appearance in federal court Thursday and was transferred to the Boyd County Detention Center in Catlettsburg, Ky.

Wagoner was one of at least 10 people who died from heroin-related causes in late 2007. The family described Wagoner as a loving father of three and a contractor, who struggled with drugs for about eight years. Family members begged him to stop using, but the addiction overcame him. Wagoner’s death inspired his son’s Social Studies project. It won first prize.

James and Samantha Mays’ indictment was filed in late July, when authorities concluded a major offensive that tracked the local heroin trade to Mexico.

Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook’s drug and vice unit was involved in that investigation. He commended the effort put forth by the fugitive task force. He said it provides an example of its benefit to the community.

The investigation has resulted in criminal charges directly related to three of the 10 deaths as of Thursday, according to court documents.

Holbrook said he has watched it have a more direct impact upon this community than any other investigation in his career.

“These are significant arrests,” he said. “Their involvement in the conspiracy resulted in someone’s death. We’re trying to send a message that’s are not acceptable.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation, along with the Huntington Violent Crime Drug Task Force, West Virginia State Police, Cabell County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The Milton Police Department, DEA, state parole officers all joined in Samantha Mays’ arrest.
Samantha Mays was the second person to be incarcerated on federal heroin charges Wednesday.

The prior arrestee was Oscar “Speedy” Frye, 51. His case is unrelated to Wagoner’s death. He was incarcerated in the regional jail at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Frye appeared in federal court Thursday morning and was transferred to the Boyd County facility. It’s the same location the court detained his co-defendant, Melissa Dawn Lockhart.
Frye and Lockhart are named in a two-count indictment. It charges both with conspiring to distribute heroin between January 2007 and June 16, 2008, in Huntington.

Count two charges Frye with distributing heroin March 27, 2008, in Huntington.

Lockhart made her initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday. She was detained at the Boyd County Detention Center in Catlettsburg, Ky.

National Video