59 Arrested in ‘Operation Coal Country’ as Capito Credits Law Enforcement Effort

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fifty-nine people were arrested, a missing child was safely recovered and dozens of alleged sex offender registration violations were uncovered during a major multi-agency enforcement operation across southern West Virginia.

U.S. Attorney Moore Capito joined federal, state and local law enforcement leaders Wednesday to announce the results of “Operation Coal Country,” a multi-week initiative targeting noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, violent fugitives and other wanted individuals.

Capito opened the announcement by directing credit toward the officers who carried out the operation.

“The folks that wear the badge should and always will rightly take credit for the operation,” Capito said, describing the effort as a story of “dedication, collaboration, and a willingness to act.”

The operation was led by the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force and the West Virginia State Police, with assistance from more than two dozen federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.

Capito particularly recognized Deputy U.S. Marshal Mark Waggamon, describing him as the “quarterback of this operation” for his work helping coordinate the effort.

Capito recalled meeting with Waggamon ahead of the announcement and hearing the scope of the work that went into the operation.

“I sort of said, ‘Hold on one second. That sounds like a lot of paperwork,’” Capito said.

Waggamon responded, “You have no idea.”

Capito said he thanked him for doing the work “because our kids are worth it.”

Waggamon, who works with the U.S. Marshals Service’s sex offender investigations branch, said Operation Coal Country was designed around two primary objectives: holding noncompliant sex offenders accountable and locating dangerous fugitives.

Law enforcement made 59 felony arrests during the operation. According to Waggamon, 16 of those arrested were registered sex offenders, 10 were wanted for sex-related felony offenses and 23 arrests involved violent criminal offenses. Eleven arrests involved federal warrants.

Authorities also recovered one missing child.

During a question-and-answer session following the announcement, officials said the child was safe. The case involved an alleged family abduction in Wood County, and an arrest was made in connection with the case.

West Virginia State Police conducted 383 sex offender compliance checks during the operation and identified 51 offenders who were not in compliance with registration requirements.

Those investigations resulted in 72 felony warrants, according to State Police Superintendent Col. James Mitchell.

“This operation was not about making contacts,” Mitchell said. “It was about finding violations. It was about developing cases and protecting our communities.”

Authorities said the operation extended well beyond sex offender enforcement.

Fugitives were arrested on allegations involving murder, attempted murder, malicious wounding, strangulation, firearms offenses, child neglect and drug-related crimes.

Law enforcement also reported seizing 75.1 grams of fentanyl, approximately 3.4 pounds of methamphetamine, 33.3 grams of cocaine, a firearm, ammunition and approximately $6,000 in cash.

Waggamon said the statistics tell only part of the story.

“What I’m most proud of is not the numbers that this operation was built around, but the teamwork,” Waggamon said. “Every compliance check mattered. Every arrest mattered. The recovery of a missing child mattered.”

He said removing drugs from West Virginia communities also mattered.

“The goal was simple,” Waggamon said. “Identify people who pose a risk to our community and our state. Find them and hold them accountable.”

Newly appointed U.S. Marshal Jack Chambers also appeared at the announcement, one of his first public appearances since taking the position in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Chambers said an operation of that size depended on intelligence sharing and cooperation among agencies at every level of government.

“Any operation this size does not happen without a strong partnership, good intelligence sharing, and officers willing to work together for a common mission,” Chambers said.

The operation included participation from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, West Virginia State Police, West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, numerous county sheriff’s departments, prosecuting attorneys’ offices and municipal police departments.

Some investigations crossed county and even state lines.

Chambers said jurisdictional boundaries would not prevent the Marshals Service from pursuing fugitives.

“We’re going to continue to look for you and eventually we’ll get you,” Chambers said.

Waggamon delivered an equally direct warning to fugitives and registered sex offenders who fail to comply with reporting requirements.

“Moving from one county to another does not make your warrant go away, and moving from one state to another does not make your warrant go away,” Waggamon said.

He added that Operation Coal Country itself may have concluded, but similar enforcement efforts will continue.

“Operation Coal Country has ended, but I can assure you the pressure from this operation will not,” Waggamon said. “There will be many more operations to come.”

Capito closed the announcement by returning the focus to the cooperation among law enforcement agencies and the protection of children.

“Our children are our future,” Capito said. “We stick to that in our office and throughout this state.”