Northern District of West Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Three Men Sentenced for Federal Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three men have been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations.
Julian McGuire, age 35, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, officers were called to a domestic disturbance at McGuire’s home. After a search of the home and McGuire’s vehicle three firearms and firearms parts were discovered. McGuire is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony drug conviction.
Aiyontae Michael Moye, age 20, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation of shots being fired in Cumberland, Maryland led investigators to Moye. It was later discovered that Moye, who is prohibited from possessing firearms, had another individual straw purchase the firearm for him.
Talten Dominic Hall, Jr., age 39, of Edinburg, Virginia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and five years of supervised release for possession of a firearm in connection to a drug trafficking crime. According to statements made in court, Hall fired a gun outside of a nightclub in Martinsburg. He was later found with two firearms. Hall is prohibited from having firearms because of three domestic battery and assault convictions in Virginia. Hall will be on supervised release for five years following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the McGuire and Moye cases on behalf of the United States and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the Hall case.
The following investigative agencies were involved in the various investigations: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office; the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office (MD); the West Virginia State Police; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; and the Loudon County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Doctor Convicted of Improper Prescribing of AdderallRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A West Virginia doctor was found guilty today by a jury for the unlawful distribution of controlled substances and for destroying evidence of his crimes.
David Elwood Hess, 60, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was convicted of four counts of improper prescribing and one count of destroying records in a federal investigation. The jury found that Hess wrote prescriptions for Adderall to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional practice. The jury also found that Hess remotely wiped his iPhone after it had been seized by law enforcement.
“Dr. Hess was reckless in his prescribing and put himself and his sexual desire ahead of the wellbeing of his patients,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “His sexual misconduct corrupted his decision-making and put his patients at great risk. Thanks to the jury’s verdict and the excellent work of investigators and prosecutors, Dr. Hess will be held accountable for his crimes.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Cogar and Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated.
Hess will be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Kleeh once a pre-sentence investigation report has been completed.
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Five People Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking in the Eastern PanhandleRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Five people have been sentenced for their crimes involving fentanyl distribution across the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
- Christopher Arthur Jones, also known as “Smooth,” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 300 months in prison and 15 years of supervised release for racketeering enterprise (RICO) conspiracy and fentanyl distribution charges. Jones, age 39, was the leader of the organization, directing members of the enterprise to sell drugs, commit acts of violence, launder money, and commit fraud in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The business was based in Philadelphia, but Jones had drug houses in Martinsburg, West Virginia and elsewhere.
- Noah Izreel Neverdon, age 21, of Parkville, Maryland, was sentenced to 70 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Neverdon sold fentanyl as a part of a drug operation from Baltimore to West Virginia.
- Dylan Moyers, age 24, of Romney, West Virginia, was sentenced to 41 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for his role in a drug conspiracy, selling heroin and fentanyl in Hampshire and Mineral Counties. According to court documents, Moyers’ home was used as a heroin and fentanyl sales hub for the operation.
- Michael Nicholas Calder, also known as “Ice,” age 37, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 85 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base. According to statements made in court, a traffic stop of Calder’s vehicle yielded fentanyl pills, cocaine, and eutylone.
- Russell Guy Fitzgerald, age 61, of Rawlings, Maryland, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Fitzgerald, also known as “Rusty,” was selling fentanyl from his Maryland home and a home in Mineral County, West Virginia. Searches of both locations resulted in the seizure of fentanyl capsules, methamphetamine, cocaine, and 20 firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.
The agencies involved in the various investigations include: the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard.
The Jones matter is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Ohio County Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Devon Alexander Bertram, age 34, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for selling cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bertram sold cocaine base to a confidential informant near a business on Wheeling Island.
Bertram will also be required to report for three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
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Ohio Man Sentenced for Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Joshua Anthony Doty, age 37, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced today to 46 months for the unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources was investigating multiple reports of hunting violations on private property in Brooke County. Officers found a video depicting Doty and a juvenile shooting guns at standing water on property owned by a coal company in Windsor Heights. Doty, who’s been convicted of multiple felonies and domestic violence, is prohibited from having firearms but admitted to having the shotgun used to fire the shots.
Doty will also be required to report for three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Maryland Woman Admits to Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jacie Marie Fairall, age 31, of Cumberland, Maryland, has admitted to a federal firearms charge.
Fairall pled guilty to making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. According to court documents, Fairall falsified a firearms form at a retailer in Ridgeley, West Virginia, and attempted to purchase a firearm for someone in exchange for drugs.
Fairall is facing up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Salem is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Sex Offender Registration ViolationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Larry Collins Bryan, 65, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 84 months for failing to update his sex offender registration.
According to court documents and statements made in court, officers were called to an apartment complex in Morgantown, West Virginia, for an altercation between Bryan and a female tenant in the complex who believed Bryan had inappropriately touched her child. Bryan was convicted of statutory rape of a minor in 1992 in Greene County, Pennsylvania, which requires him to register for life as a sex offender. Bryan had been living at the Morgantown complex for more than a year but had not registered as a sex offender in the state of West Virginia.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh found that Bryan committed the offense of third-degree sexual abuse against the child in violation of West Virginia law after the mother’s allegation was substantiated by a surveillance video.
Bryan will report for five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police.
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Wheeling Grand Jury Returns Multiple Firearms IndictmentsRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury has returned three indictments, charging West Virginia residents with federal firearms violations.
Robert Hypes, age 56, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm. According to reports, officers were called to Hypes’ home on a domestic incident and found a revolver and two rifles during a search. Hypes was previously convicted of a felony in Nicolas County, West Virginia, prohibiting him from having firearms.
Timothy Nottingham, age 49, of Middlebourne, West Virginia, is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. According to the indictment, Nottingham is prohibited from having firearms because of prior felony convictions of burglary and grand larceny in Tyler and Marshall Counties. He was arrested with a .38 caliber revolver in Tyler County.
Talon D. Feucht, age 29, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, is facing one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Feucht, prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony conviction in Maine, had a .38 caliber revolver in Marshall County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid is prosecuting the Hypes and Feucht cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the Nottingham case.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the Hypes case. The Tyler County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the Nottingham investigation. The Moundsville Police Department assisted in the Feucht case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Marion County Man Admits to Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jermel Matthew Williams, age 32, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge.
Williams pled guilty to one count of making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, investigators uncovered that Williams, a known drug user, falsified forms to purchase firearms from a licensed dealer in Fairmont. Several of those guns later were discovered in crime investigations in California and Puerto Rico.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
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Search Warrants Executed in Federal Drug InvestigationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Five federal search warrants were executed this morning and one person was arrested as part of an ongoing federal drug trafficking investigation.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that search warrants were served early today upon three residences in Wheeling, West Virginia, and two residences in Bellaire, Ohio, without incident. Quavonte Pugh, age 28, of Wheeling, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine. Pugh, who has a prior federal drug distribution conviction, was taken into custody at his Carmel Road home and transported to the Northern Regional Jail where he will remain pending a detention hearing.
During the searches, officers recovered controlled substances, firearms, and United States currency.
The case is being investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, which is comprised of officers and agents from the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Support for today’s enforcement operation was provided by the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Nogay and Clayton Reid and U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld.
Baltimore Woman Admits to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Daniela Marie Giancoli, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, has admitted to supplying fentanyl to dealers in West Virginia.
Giancoli pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Giancoli supplied large amounts of fentanyl to dealers in Grant County and elsewhere. Nearly 9,000 fentanyl pills, weighing more than two kilograms, were found during the investigation. Giancoli and Michael Matthews, co-defendant, worked together out of their Baltimore apartment to sell drugs to more than 10 dealers in the area.
Giancoli is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Matthews pled guilty in 2023 and will be sentenced in April.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Harrison County Man Charged with Firearms and Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Martin Lynn Queen, age 61, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was indicted on federal firearms and fentanyl charges.
Queen is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, investigators conducted multiple vehicle and property searches, uncovering fentanyl stamps, fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and other controlled substances, as well as several firearms. Queen is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior firearms conviction in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Queen faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the firearms charge and faces up to 20 years for the drug charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Parsons is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Crimes in Virginia and West VirginiaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Bowie, Maryland, man pleaded guilty yesterday to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Aug. 18, 2022, William Phillip McDowell, Jr, aka “Mike,” 44, was driving a rental car through Harrison County, West Virginia, with two passengers when an officer from the Clarksburg Police Department stopped the vehicle for speeding. At the time, McDowell’s driver's license was suspended, and McDowell was on probation for a felony murder conviction. During a search of the vehicle, police found a pack containing a brick-sized package of 997.7 grams of fentanyl, 43 baggies containing a total of 16.46 grams of fentanyl, a bag containing 8.89 grams of cocaine, and a stolen, loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun. McDowell pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl in this case.
On July 7, 2023, detectives with the Prince William County Police Department observed McDowell conducting what appeared to be a drug transaction in a parking lot in Woodbridge, Virginia. When McDowell returned to the passenger seat of his vehicle, the detectives detained and searched the vehicle. In the passenger seat where McDowell had been sitting, the detectives found a backpack containing a .380 caliber handgun, .380 caliber ammunition, 388 fentanyl pills, 22 grams of cocaine, a digital scale with cocaine residue, $617.85 in cash, and a wallet with McDowell’s photo identification card. McDowell pleaded guilty to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
McDowell is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for the drug trafficking charge from the Northern District of West Virginia and a mandatory minimum of five years to be served consecutively with any other prison term and up to life in prison for the firearms charge from the Eastern District of Virginia. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; William Ihlenfeld, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Peter Newsham, Chief of Prince William County Police; and Mark Kiddy, Clarksburg Chief of Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Edwards and Raizza K. Ty are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the Northern District of West Virginia case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) and the District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (NDWV) or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:23-cr-196 and 1:24-cr-59 for EDVA and Case No. 1:23-cr-42 for NDWV.
Florida Woman Admits to Elder Financial FraudRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Spring Hill, Florida, woman has pled guilty to defrauding a Berkeley County man who suffered from dementia.
Wendy Renee Bunner, age 48, pled guilty on Monday to one count of money laundering. According to court documents and statements made in court, Wendy Bunner conspired with her husband to obtain a $280,318.73 cashier’s check from a United Bank account belonging to the elderly victim to purchase real estate in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Samuel Bunner, husband of Wendy Bunner, previously pled guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Samuel Bunner defrauded the same victim of $1,906,229 by selling his real estate, emptying his investment and bank accounts, and opening a credit card in his name. Together, the Bunners used the money taken from the victim for their own personal benefit and purchased homes, campers, cars, and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of consumer goods.
“The Bunners took advantage of a vulnerable victim to fund a lifestyle that they otherwise could not have afforded,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue those who prey upon the elderly to ensure that there is accountability when this type of conduct occurs.”
Samual Bunner faces up to thirty (30) years in prison and Wendy Bunner faces up to ten (10) years in prison. Sentencing hearings for each will take place later this year.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida, and FBI-Tampa assisted with the matter.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Hardy County Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – William Albert Flinn, Jr., age 45, of Moorefield West Virginia, was sentenced today to 195 months in federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms charges.
Flinn pled guilty in August 2023 to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, during a methamphetamine sale in Hardy County, Flinn showed the buyer an assault rifle. Investigators then executed a search warrant at Flinn’s home and found 383 grams of meth, the assault rifle, and cash.
Flinn will report for 5 years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The Task Force consists of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keyser Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Harrison County Man Guilty of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William Kevin Glover was convicted today on multiple counts of distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in Harrison County.
Glover, age 62, of Clarksburg, was found guilty by a jury today on seven counts of drug trafficking and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises after a four-day trial. The jury heard testimony that Glover worked with others to sell illicit drugs in Harrison County, using his home as a hub for the distribution operation. Investigators searched Glover’s home and found fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and a firearm.
Three other Clarksburg residents pled guilty in 2023 to charges related to the operation and are awaiting sentencing. They are Stacy Elaine Russell, age 50; Robert Anthony Brockington, age 41; and Jerri Rena Lucente, age 35.
Glover faces at least 10 years and up to life for the charge of distribution of 50 grams or more methamphetamine, and he faces up to 20 years for each of the remaining charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Flower and Christie Utt prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Berkeley County Man Admits to Elder Financial AbuseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – An Inwood, West Virginia man has admitted to fraudulently taking over a quarter of a million dollars from his father.
Joseph Beach, age 54, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud. According to court documents and statements made in court, Beach was the fiduciary for his father, who is under the care of a veterans’ care facility and receives monthly benefits. As the fiduciary, Beach received his father’s veteran’s disability, retirement, and social security payments but used them for his own benefit. The total amount of funds taken by Beach was $253,867.12.
“It is always sad when older West Virginians are victimized by their own family members,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who steal from their loved ones in order to enrich themselves.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and the Social Security Administration investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
California Man Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Jason Kirk, age 43, of Tracy, California, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Northern Panhandle.
Kirk pled guilty in October 2023 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 5 kilograms of cocaine, and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Kirk worked with others in the Ohio Valley to sell large quantities of drugs in the Wheeling area. Kirk was one of the cash couriers for the operation, flying in and out of the Pittsburgh International Airport to San Diego, California, to deliver large amounts of drug sale proceeds.
Once he completes his prison sentence, Kirk will be required to report to the U.S. Probation Office for a period of five years of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, which includes officers from the Wheeling Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Belmont County (OH) Sheriff’s Office and the Belmont County Prosecutor’s Office assisted. The investigation was supported by the ATF, the Marshall County Drug Task Force, the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, the Allegheny County (PA) Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Texas Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Selling FentanylRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Quintel N. Owens, age 39, of Katy, Texas, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for selling fentanyl in the Eastern Panhandle.
According to court documents, Owens sold more than 780 grams of fentanyl in Berkeley County over a period of several months.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Jefferson County Woman Sentenced for Selling Fentanyl on College CampusRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Hannah Marie Behm, age 54, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a protected location.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Behm was selling fentanyl pills on and around the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. During a traffic stop, officers found Behm with 133 capsules containing a mixture that included fentanyl.
Behm will be required to report for supervised release for six years following her prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Salem prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Two Men Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine from JailRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men were sentenced to federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine in Hampshire County.
Jimmey Lee Lambert, age 37, of Hampshire County, was sentenced today to 188 months for methamphetamine trafficking. Wes Allen Barrett, age 33, of Springfield, West Virginia, was sentenced to 140 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Barrett dealt drugs by phone for fellow inmate, Jimmy Lee Lambert, while incarcerated at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail. Lambert then asked his father, Timmey Lambert, Sr., and his juvenile daughter to sell the methamphetamine while he was incarcerated. Investigators searched Timmy Lambert, Sr.’s house in Hampshire County and found nearly 140 grams of meth, 16 firearms, $4100 in counterfeit money, two scales, and a bulletproof vest.
Barrett and Lambert will each serve three years of supervised release following their prison sentences.
Timmey Lambert, Sr., was sentenced in January 2024 to 108 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funding initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Harrison County Man Admits to Selling FentanylRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Edward Breeden, age 30, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to selling fentanyl in Upshur County.
According to court documents, during a traffic stop, deputies were told Breeden was selling fentanyl in the area. Investigators searched Breeden’s motel room and found 277 fentanyl stamps.
Breeden faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
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Berkeley County Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Russell Dane Crown, age 54, of Falling Waters, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison for a drug trafficking charge.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Crown was selling methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base from his home in Berkeley County. Investigators found fentanyl capsules, cocaine base, crystal methamphetamine, three firearms, and cash in his house.
Crown will be required to report for supervised release for three years following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Two Eastern Panhandle Residents Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Eastern Panhandle residents were sentenced today for drug trafficking.
Kimberely Sue Smith, age 54, of Falling Waters, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base. According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith, also known as “Tina-Marie Smith” and “Deniej Smith,” was selling methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base in Berkeley County. A search of her home uncovered fentanyl capsules, cocaine base, crystal methamphetamine, and cash. Smith will be required to report for supervised release for three years following her prison sentence.
Charles Douglas Cobak, age 34, of Ridgeley, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine hydrochloride. According to court documents and statements made in court, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service found a suspicious package and contacted the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force. The package contained 2.3 pounds of methamphetamine and was meant for Cobak. Cobak will serve five years of supervised release when he is released from prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the Smith case on behalf of the government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the Cobak case.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated the Smith case. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office investigated the Cobak matter.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Texas Man Admits to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Nolan Eugene McCray, age 39, of Cedar Lane, Texas, has admitted to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, McCray was identified during an investigation into drug activity. A Wetzel County property where McCray had stayed was searched and officers found methamphetamine and $14,580 in cash. McCray was then taken into custody on outstanding warrants in Texas. While in jail, he made several phone calls to drug associates in the Northern Panhandle. Those conversations led officers to search another property, yielding more than 400 grams of methamphetamine and nearly one kilogram of heroin.
McCray faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Morgan County Man Sentenced for Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kenneth Carey Markley, age 45, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for a firearms conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Markley worked with others to illegally purchase and sell firearms in West Virginia and Maryland. Markley, who’s prohibited from having firearms because of a prior breaking and entering felony charge in Berkeley County, paid another defendant to purchase firearms on his behalf. He would then sell those firearms to others. Six of those firearms have been recovered in criminal investigations in New York, Maryland, and Kentucky.
Markley is required to report for supervised release for three years with the U.S. Probation Office following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Maryland Man Sentenced for Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Malachi Michael George, age 20, of Cumberland, Maryland, was sentenced today to 57 months in federal prison for trafficking firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the investigation began with a shots-fired incident in Maryland, leading officers to several firearms traced to Quinton Baker. Baker purchased the firearms in Mineral County, West Virginia, and sold them to George. George then sold those firearms for cash. During a search of George’s home, investigators witnessed George discard a 9mm pistol, a bag of crack cocaine, and $4,000 out of one of the apartment’s windows.
George will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Baker was sentenced to five years of probation earlier this year.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Interstate Domestic Violence and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Paul Richard Tomlinson, age 24, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for interstate violation of a protective order and possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Martinsburg Police Department was called to a domestic incident at a home in the city. Tomlinson had gotten into a physical altercation with his girlfriend’s father. Investigators found a firearm in Tomlinson’s car. Tomlinson is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony conviction and was arrested. Tomlinson’s former girlfriend told officers that Tomlinson sexually and physically abused her during a cross-country trip. She was then granted a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order. While being held on the firearms charge, Tomlinson asked his mother to contact the victim on his behalf on multiple occasions to encourage the victim to drop the charges.
Tomlinson will also serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison.
This case was prosecuted as a part of the Northern District of West Virginia’s Domestic Violence Reduction Initiative, formed in early 2023 to protect domestic violence victims, take dangerous criminals off the streets, and enhance community safety. The program focuses on keeping firearms out of the hands of violent offenders.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Martinsburg Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Jefferson County Man Admits to Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kyle Andrew Sensel, age 23, of Falling Waters, West Virginia, pled guilty to one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Sensel, a known unlawful user of controlled substances, was arrested after he was found with a loaded 357 Magnum during a traffic stop.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
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Berkeley County Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Javier Lewis Howard, age 41, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for the distribution of cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during a traffic stop, officers found heroin, prescription pills, and $3,774 inside Howard’s vehicle. During Howard’s arrest, officers found fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine base on him. A subsequent search warrant at his home found suboxone strips, drug paraphernalia, eutylone, cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Berkeley County Man Sentenced for Federal Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Austin M. Ferguson, age 28, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ferguson was selling heroin capsules when he flashed a 9mm pistol, removed the firearm magazine, and called the ammunition within the firearm “cop killers.” Officers searched Ferguson’s hotel room and found fentanyl capsules and 47 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Ferguson will be on three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Marshall County Man Sentenced for Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – David Lee McCracken, age 39, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ohio County Sheriff’s deputies arrested McCracken at a hotel in Triadelphia, West Virginia, on four outstanding drug trafficking warrants from Belmont County, Ohio. Investigators searched the hotel room and found two safes containing methamphetamine, cash, and drug paraphernalia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Ohio County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
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Philadelphia Man Sentenced for Role in a Multi-State Drug EnterpriseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Dominic Asquith, age 39, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 105 months in federal prison for his role in a drug racketeering enterprise that had reach into Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Delaware.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Asquith worked for a multi-state organized drug trafficking business dubbed the “19th Street Enterprise.” During the investigation, Asquith was arrested in Maryland on the property of a home that the enterprise targeted for a robbery. He was found with a backpack containing rope, a mask, and two cell phone jamming devices used to disable cell phones.
The Philadelphia-based enterprise sold drugs, committed acts of violence, laundered money, and committed fraud.
Asquith will be required to be on three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Marion County Man Sentenced for Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Cedric Pierre Young, age 33, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison to be followed by six years of supervised release for heroin and fentanyl trafficking.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Young, also known as “Billy,” sold heroin and fentanyl near Fifth Street Park playground and the Marion County Adult and Community Education Center, both in Marion County. Investigators searched several properties connected to Young, finding nearly 245 grams of fentanyl and cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Three Rivers Drug Task Force investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Grant County man admits to firearms and drug chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jacob Glen Vance, age 23, of Petersburg, West Virginia, has admitted to having a machine gun and methamphetamine.
Vance pled guilty to possession of a machine gun and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Vance’s home was searched as a part of another investigation, and officers found a fully automatic AR-15 rifle, two short-barreled rifles, two silencers, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and cash.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
West Virginia Doctor Charged with Tax Fraud, Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
ELKINS - A doctor from Wheeling, West Virginia, has been indicted for failure to pay over nearly $2.5 million in payroll taxes.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Nitesh Ratnakar, age 48, was indicted Wednesday on forty-one counts of tax fraud and one count of obstructing a federal grand jury investigation. Ratnakar owned and operated a gastroenterology practice and a medical equipment manufacturer in Elkins, West Virginia. He is alleged to have withheld payroll taxes from his employees’ paychecks and then failed to make all required payments to the Internal Revenue Service. Between 2018 and 2022, Ratnakar allegedly failed to pay over $2,419,560 in employee withholdings to the I.R.S.
“We take tax fraud seriously because it affects all of us,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “As tax season kicks into high gear, this case is a reminder that being dishonest with the I.R.S. is never a good idea.”
The indictment also charges Ratnakar with filing false tax returns in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and with causing false documents to be provided in response to a federal grand jury subpoena.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas.
It was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Men Charged with Federal Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men have been charged with federal firearms violations in North Central West Virginia.
Wesley Shane Haggerty, age 35, of Cabins, West Virginia, was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Haggerty was previously convicted of multiple domestic violence, burglary, and drug charges, prohibiting him from having firearms. He was arrested in Pendleton County and found in possession of a .25 caliber pistol.
James Douglas Lambert, age 35, of Moorefield, West Virginia, was indicted for unlawful possession of firearms. According to the indictment, Lambert is prohibited from having firearms because he was previously convicted of breaking and entering, escape, and domestic battery in Grant and Hardy Counties. Lambert possessed seven firearms at a residence in Grant County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the cases. The Pendleton County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the Haggerty case.
Indictments are merely allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Individuals Facing Federal Charges for Straw Purchasing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Two people have been indicted on federal firearms charges by a Grand Jury sitting in Elkins, West Virginia.
John Allen Shomo, age 52, of Coalton, West Virginia, was indicted for the straw purchase of a firearm and making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm. According to court documents, Shomo bought a .40 caliber pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in Randolph County, stating on the forms that the firearm was for his personal use. Shomo purchased the firearm for an individual who was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a felony conviction.
Stacy Lynn Cave, age 40, of Elkins, West Virginia, is charged with the straw purchase of a firearm and making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm. According to the indictment, Cave falsified forms to purchase a .223 caliber rifle for an individual who was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a felony conviction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Mountain Region Drug Task Force.
Indictments are merely allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Wetzel County Man Sentenced for Federal Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Duwayne Luis Ueltschy, age 44, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ueltschy, also known as “Duane” and “D-Wayne,” sold methamphetamine and offered a shotgun as collateral for another drug deal. Ueltschy has a criminal history involving domestic violence, theft, and drug trafficking.
Following his incarceration, Ueltschy will be required to be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Twenty-Five Charged in Indictment Targeting Philadelphia Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Twenty-five people have been charged in a case targeting a Philadelphia-based organization that was supplying large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to North Central West Virginia.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced the unsealing of an indictment and the arrests of individuals in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia on drug trafficking charges. According to court documents, Rodney Johnson, age 46, of Philadelphia, was the leader of a group that was supplying significant quantities of illicit drugs to Monongalia County. The organization’s members utilized apartments in Morgantown in which to reside and store their drugs.
“The indictment and subsequent arrests have led to the dismantling of a sophisticated operation that was causing large quantities of dangerous drugs to be distributed in our region,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “The work of our agents and prosecutors in this matter has made our communities safer and shows the reach that we have when it comes to the disruption of drug trafficking.”
“I want to highlight the collective efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to dismantle a criminal enterprise who was intent on flooding our communities with this poison,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “An investigation of this size requires partnership and teamwork. The result of this operation is a testament to the power of partnership and the FBI’s commitment to curb violence in our communities.”
Law enforcement arrested 22 people in a coordinated effort across the four states. Investigators are still searching for:
- Rodney Johnson, age 46, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Ryan Shaw, age 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Rasheab Bradsher, age 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative. The task force consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; the WVU Police Department; the Granville Police Department; and the Star City Police Department.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
List of defendants: www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/defendants-charged-us-v-johnson-et-al
Ohio County Woman Sentenced to 10 Years for Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Chelsea Marion Banks, age 28, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Banks was working with another person to sell drugs in the Wheeling area. Investigators executed search warrants on Banks’s Wheeling home and two Pennsylvania storage units, yielding more than a kilogram of fentanyl, cocaine, stolen firearms, ammunition, and more than $208,000 in cash.
Banks will be under United States Probation supervision for three years following her release from prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Wheeling Police Department; and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Wheeling Developer Admits to Wire and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wheeling real estate developer pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and tax fraud in connection with a scheme to bilk investors out of millions of dollars.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Jeffrey James Morris, managing member of Roxby Development, LLC, admitted to one count of wire fraud and one count of willful failure to pay over tax. According to court documents, Morris, age 37, agreed that he used false and misleading information to induce investments in the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Morris also admitted that he caused Roxby Development to collect payroll taxes on behalf of its employees but willfully failed to pay over those funds to the Internal Revenue Service.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Morris must pay $5,129,113.32 in restitution to investors and an additional $526,476.58 in taxes, penalties, and interest to the Internal Revenue Service.
Morris secured funding both locally and nationally to develop real estate in Wheeling. In addition to his acquisition of the Scottish Rite Cathedral, he acquired the McClure House Hotel and the Mount Carmel Monastery and solicited investments for other properties in the area. The Cathedral and McClure House were foreclosed upon in 2023, and the Monastery will be conveyed by Morris to its primary lienholder pursuant to the plea agreement.
Morris faces up to six and a half years in prison when he is sentenced.
United States Attorney Ihlenfeld and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-CI.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Read the plea agreement here:
Jeffrey Morris Plea AgreementMaryland Man Sentenced for Soliciting a Minor Online for Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Holden Borten, age 25, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was sentenced today to 135 months in federal prison for traveling for sex with a minor.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Borten initiated a sexual conversation through social media with someone he believed was under the age of 12 and then traveled from Maryland to Berkeley County, West Virginia, expecting a sexual encounter with the minor in December 2022. Borten was arrested at the meeting site by law enforcement.
Upon completion of his prison sentence, Borten will be on supervised release for life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Marion County man admits to theft of firearmsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jaeson Wayne Marbury, age 30, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to theft of a firearm from a licensed dealer.
According to court documents, Marbury purchased 19 firearms from licensed dealers in Morgantown, West Virginia, with personal checks that later bounced because of insufficient funds, knowing his account couldn’t cover the purchases. Marbury then sold the firearms to individuals and pawn shops.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees and Partners with Attorney General’s AwardsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees.
“Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.
Jarod Douglas, Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for Outstanding Work in Investigation Threats to Critical U.S. Navy Technology for his exemplary work in U.S. v. Toebbe et al. Jonathan Toebbe and his wife, Diana Toebbe, of Annapolis, Maryland, were sentenced last year after pleading guilty to conspiracy to communicate restricted data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships. Read more about the case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/maryland-nuclear-engineer-and-his-wife-sentenced-espionage-related-offenses. This is Mr. Douglas’s second Distinguished Service Award.
Along with Mr. Douglas, the Distinguished Award was presented to Trial Attorneys Matthew J. McKenzie and S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Leiber Smolar for the Western District of Pennsylvania; FBI Special Agents Jason Serone, Justin Van Tromp and Peter L. Olinits; FBI Supervisory Special Agent Andrew Bass Gray; FBI Unit Chief Andrew Thomas Mitchell; Special Agent John C. Nocella of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; FBI Intelligence Analyst Brent Cronce; FBI Staff Operations Specialist Vicky Mineard; FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Brassini; FBI Supervisory Investigative Specialist Keith Smith; and FBI Intelligence Analyst Sean Cottington.
Former IRS Contractor Sentenced for Disclosing Tax Return Information to News OrganizationsRead the Press Release
A former IRS contractor was sentenced today to five years in prison for disclosing thousands of tax returns without authorization.
“Charles Littlejohn abused his position as a consultant at the Internal Revenue Service by disclosing thousands of Americans’ federal tax returns and other private financial information to news organizations. He violated his responsibility to safeguard the sensitive information that was entrusted to his care, and now he is a convicted felon,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentence sends a strong message that those who violate laws intended to protect sensitive tax information will face significant punishment.”
According to court documents, Charles Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, D.C., while working at the IRS as a government contractor, stole tax return information associated with a high-ranking government official (Public Official A). Littlejohn accessed tax returns associated with Public Official A (and related individuals and entities) on an IRS database after using broad search parameters designed to conceal the true purpose of his queries. He then uploaded the tax returns to a private website in order to avoid IRS protocols established to detect and prevent large downloads or uploads from IRS devices or systems. Littlejohn then saved the tax returns to multiple personal storage devices, including an iPod, before contacting News Organization 1. Between around August 2019 and October 2019, Littlejohn provided News Organization 1 with the tax return information associated with Public Official A. Littlejohn subsequently stole additional tax return information related to Public Official A and provided it to News Organization 1. Beginning in September 2020, News Organization 1 published a series of articles about Public Official A’s tax returns using the tax return information obtained from Littlejohn.
“This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who is considering emulating Mr. Littlejohn’s actions,” said Acting Inspector General Heather Hill of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). “TIGTA relentlessly investigates individuals who illicitly access and disclose taxpayer information, regardless of their personal motivation. TIGTA appreciates the commitment of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in ensuring those who abuse their positions of public trust are held accountable for their actions.”
In July and August 2020, Littlejohn separately stole tax return information for thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals. Littlejohn was again able to evade detection by uploading the tax return information to a private website. In November 2020, Littlejohn disclosed this tax return information to News Organization 2, which published nearly 50 articles using the stolen data. Littlejohn then obstructed the forthcoming investigation into his conduct by deleting and destroying evidence of his disclosures.
Littlejohn pleaded guilty in October 2023 to unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information.
TIGTA investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson and Deputy Chief Jennifer Clarke of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Tucker County man admits to federal firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeffrey D. Hebb, age 53, of Thomas, West Virginia, has admitted to possession of an unregistered firearm.
According to court documents, officers were called to a home in Tucker County on reports of shots fired and threats. Hebb was found at the home with an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. During the investigation, two unregistered explosive devices were found in Hebb’s home.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; and the Tucker County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
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Ohio man sentenced for federal drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert L. Bruce, age 42, of Groveport, Ohio, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bruce, also known as “Miami,” sold methamphetamine in Marshall County, WV. During the investigation, Bruce’s vehicle was searched, and officers found nearly 800 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the engine compartment.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Grant County man sentenced to 12 years for methamphetamine and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Christian Adam Fisher, age 38, of Petersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Fisher was selling large quantities of methamphetamine in Grant County. Investigators found methamphetamine and a firearm after a search of his home and his vehicle.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Investigators dismantle fentanyl drug trafficking network in Eastern Panhandle - 82 people chargedRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Eighty-two people have been indicted by a federal grand jury for a drug trafficking operation that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in the Eastern Panhandle.
The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that an indictment was unsealed, charging individuals from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia with drug trafficking. According to court documents, Gary Bernard Brown, Jr., also known as “Gee,” age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland, supplied others with large quantities of fentanyl capsules and powder for redistribution in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. The investigation yielded 10 kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets.
“In a coordinated effort across three states, the FBI and our partners worked seamlessly to degrade the capabilities of a criminal enterprise that endangered the lives of our children and neighbors by pedaling illegal narcotics into our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mike Shanahan of the FBI-Pittsburgh Division. “Today, their illicit activities came to an end.”
After a large-scale arrest operation in the region, 11 of the 82 defendants are still at-large. Investigators are searching for:
- Charles Delroy Singletary, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland
- Jeffrey Lee Pullen, age 52, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- Benjamin Paul Knotts, age 48, of Charles Town, West Virginia
- Haile Madalynn Speaks, age 21, of Charles Town, West Virginia
- James Sanford, age 39, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- John Ernest LeCluse, age 39, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- Shelby Elizabeth Thompson, age 29, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- April Dawn Wentzell, age 36, of Ranson, West Virginia
- Daniel Lee Corbin, Jr., age 35, of Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Kendall Axavier Baker, age 31, of Winchester Virginia
- David Lewis Pennington, Jr., age 20, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
If you have any information, call 1-877-926-8332 or go to https://www.usmarshals.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
This case was a collaborative investigative effort that includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Pittsburgh Field Division, Baltimore Field Division, and Richmond Field Division); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Ranson Police Department; Martinsburg Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Stafford County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Maryland); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Winchester Police Department; and the Clarke County Sheriff's Office (Virginia).
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
List of defendants: www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/us-v-gary-brown-jr-et-al-defendant-list
View the indictment here:
U.S. v. Brown et al indictment