By Bill Archer
PRINCETON — Federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a warrant for inspection on the offices of Mercer County Sheriff Danny Ray Wills, according to documents in U.S. District Court in Bluefield.
The search of Wills’ office took place at about 2 p.m., on May 5. The federal documents related to the search remained under seal until May 11, but details of the administrative inspection were not widely known until Thursday morning.
The scope of the inspection centered on a search and collection of “all finished or unfinished controlled substances on the premises,” as well as documents required for the control of dispensing controlled substances, according to the warrant for inspection. Federal Magistrate Judge R. Clarke VanDervort issued the warrant. Wills is a medical doctor, and was in an active medical practice prior to his election as sheriff, and has current licenses in that profession.
Princeton attorney Mark Wills issued a statement on behalf Sheriff Wills. He stated that “the allegations made (in the administrative inspection warrant) have absolutely nothing to do with the performance of his duties as sheriff,” Mark Wills said. “He has not resigned. The facts (concerning the allegations) will be coming out in the weeks ahead.”
Dominic Grant, diversion investigator of the DEA, conducted the administrative search along with Special Agent Michael A. Yansick of the FBI. Much of the information contained in the DEA’s “Receipt for cash or other items” was redacted, or blocked from public view. Most of the items noted on Form DEA-12, appeared to be listed as “patient records.”
Danny R. Wills served with the West Virginia State Police before entering the West Virginia University Medical School in 1971. He had a private medical practice for several years, but was serving as head of the emergency department of Bluefield Regional Medical Center for a few years before entering the race for Mercer County sheriff in 2004. Wills was re-elected to the office in 2008.
Mercer County Commissioner Jay Mills said he had heard the rumors circulating through the courthouse, but said of Wills: “He hasn’t resigned.”
Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Timm Boggess said he was aware of the search on May 5. “This department is not conducting the investigation and as a result, I don’t know any of the details,” he said.
– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com
