Catra Nelson, also known as “Trey,” 50, of Zanesville, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, May 28, 2026, to 12 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in the Parkersburg, West Virginia, area. He will also serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Nelson conspired with co-defendant Steven Reger and others to distribute methamphetamine from at least January 2020 to March 2021. Court documents revealed Nelson aided and abetted the sale of approximately 428.1 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Parkersburg on March 23, 2021. The court found him responsible for distributing over 40 pounds of the drug.
United States Attorney Moore Capito emphasized the severity of the sentence, stating, “Despite multiple prior convictions, this criminal flooded our streets with more than 40 pounds of this poison and has been a large-scale drug trafficker for over two decades.” Capito added that his office will continue to pursue strong penalties to protect communities.
Nelson has a history of drug trafficking convictions, including for cocaine, cocaine base, marijuana, and methamphetamine. He was indicted in October 2022 but evaded capture until May 16, 2024. Co-defendant Steven Reger, 49, of Morgantown, was previously sentenced to five years and three months in prison in August 2023 for his involvement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Parkersburg Drug and Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.