Northern District of West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – The owner of Clearfiber, Inc., an internet service provider in Monongalia County, has been charged with money laundering.

Timothy Chad Henson, 35, of Morgantown, West Virginia, allegedly defrauded the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to court documents, the USDA’s Community Connect Program offered grants to eligible applicants providing broadband services to rural areas. On behalf of Clearfiber, Henson applied and was awarded $1.96 million to offer high-speed internet services in Monongalia and Marion Counties. Henson submitted false invoices to the USDA to receive more than $340,000. Henson then transferred $322,900 into another bank account for his personal use.

Henson faces 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.

Henson is scheduled for an initial appearance on May 29 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations.  

An information is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Brandon Rayshawn Watkins, 30, of Douglasville, Georgia, was sentenced today to 13 months in federal prison for bank fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Watkins made unauthorized transactions from accounts at Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union in New Martinsville. Watkins obtained the personal identifying information and account numbers for numerous credit union customers, withdrawing cash from those accounts. Watkins also engaged in similar acts in South Carolina and the loss related to his criminal acts was over $70,000.

Watkins was ordered to pay $70,750 in restitution to Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union and a personal money judgment of $10,050.  He will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.

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WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Two West Virginia men have admitted to firearms charges.

Mustafa A. Baker, age 54, of Wheeling, West Virginia, pled guilty today to the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Baker was wanted on outstanding warrants of brandishing and destruction of property. Wheeling Police officers pulled over Baker’s vehicle and found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition. Baker is prohibited from having firearms because of eight prior felony convictions in Virginia, including drug possession, 3rd offense DUI, felony domestic assault, and felony assault and battery.

Michael Douglas Murphy, Jr., age 38, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, pled guilty to making a false statement in applications for a firearm. According to court documents, Murphy falsified a form when purchasing a firearm at the licensed dealer in Martinsburg, claiming the firearm was for his personal use, when in fact, the firearm was for another individual who was prohibited by law from possessing firearms.

Investigative agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; and the Wheeling Police Department.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kyle, also with the Brooke County Prosecutor's Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Morgantown, West Virginia man has been convicted of possessing and receiving child pornography.

United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Christopher Harp, age 39, was found guilty by a jury on multiple counts of receiving and possessing child pornography. According to the evidence introduced at trial, FBI agents identified an Internet Protocol (IP) address in Morgantown that appeared to be active in the distribution and receipt of illegal images and videos via a peer-to-peer network. Agents determined that the IP address was associated with Mr. Harp and executed a search warrant, seizing his computers, tablets, phones and thumb drives. Agents discovered hundreds of downloads to Harp’s devices, with many of the videos and images including children under the age of 12.

“Protecting young people is one of our most important responsibilities at the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Whenever we identify someone who is engaged in this type of activity, we devote all resources necessary to hold the offender accountable and prevent further victimization of the children involved.”

Harp faces a sentence of five to twenty years in federal prison for each of the receipt charges and up to twenty years for the possession charge when sentenced. Harp was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service following the guilty verdicts where he will remain pending his sentencing hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Conklin and David Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

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MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Washington, D.C. man with three prior felony convictions has been convicted of illegally possessing a firearm.

United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Mario Adonte Crawley, age 51, was convicted by a jury of the unlawful possession of a firearm. The evidence at trial established that Crawley’s vehicle was stopped in Kearneysville, West Virginia, by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office in September of 2023.  During the traffic stop, officers located a loaded 9mm handgun hidden in a laundry basket in the back of Crawley’s automobile. Crawley is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for Armed Robbery in the District of Columbia, Attempted Robbery in Petersburg, Virginia, and Receiving Stolen Property in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Salem and Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

Crawley faces up to fifteen years in prison when he is sentenced.

U.S. District Court Judge Gina M. Groh presided.

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WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Harry Fred Wells, age 53, of Follansbee, West Virginia, has admitted to possession of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Wells was under investigation for inappropriate contact with a minor through social media. Officers searched his home and his phone, finding child pornography.

Wells 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.

The Department of Homeland Security investigated.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.

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CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Tyler Jordan Sands, age 23, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for fentanyl and firearms offenses.

Sands pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm in November 2023. According to court documents and statements made in court, Sands was under investigation for traveling from Akron to sell drugs in the Clarksburg area. A search warrant was executed on a home being used by Sands in Clarksburg, along with his vehicle and hotel room. Officers found 500 fentanyl pills, powdered fentanyl, cash, and a semi-automatic pistol.  Because of a prior conviction, Sands is prohibited from having firearms.

Sands will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted 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.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

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CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Stephen C. Crawford, age 45, an inmate formerly housed at United States Penitentiary Hazelton, was sentenced today to 188 months in prison for the death of a fellow inmate. 

Crawford was found guilty by a jury of assault of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily harm in December 2023. According to court documents and statements made in court, Crawford used a handmade weapon to stab another inmate multiple times. The inmate later died of his injuries.

Crawford will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Flower and Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

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CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Antwann Terrance Horton, age 29, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison and six years of supervised release for the distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location.

According to court documents, Horton was selling methamphetamine in Harrison County. One of the sales was done near a public playground in Clarksburg.

The case was prosecuted on behalf of the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley.

The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the Fairmont Police Department investigated. 

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

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WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Twelve people from Ohio and West Virginia have been charged with distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that ten individuals from the Greater Cleveland area plus two more from the Ohio Valley have been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. The cases were investigated by multi-jurisdictional drug task forces based in Weirton, Wheeling, and Moundsville which are comprised of local, state, and federal agents.

“We have recently experienced a surge of drug traffickers from Northern Ohio traveling to West Virginia to sell drugs and engage in violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Our drug task forces responded swiftly to this influx and as a result, we were able to build cases, obtain indictments, and push back against the threat.”

The individuals charged and the allegations each face are as follows:

• Deangelo Smith, age 45, Cleveland (cocaine distribution in Ohio County);
• Derrick Leflore, 35, Cleveland (cocaine distribution in Ohio County);
• Dontrell Ivery, 46, Cleveland (cocaine distribution in Ohio County);
• Alexander Davis, 43, Cleveland (methamphetamine distribution in Ohio County);
• Tiajuana Sharnna Greer, 29, Cleveland (cocaine distribution in Ohio County);
• Ahmere Williams, 20, of Akron (methamphetamine distribution in Marshall County);
• Demarcus R. Brown, 21, Akron (methamphetamine/fentanyl distribution in Marshall County);
• Michael J. Lloyd, Jr., 21, Akron (methamphetamine/fentanyl distribution in Marshall County);
• Sirvonte R. Suggs, 18, Akron (methamphetamine/fentanyl distribution in Marshall County);
• Stephan G. Ward, 32, Akron (methamphetamine/fentanyl distribution in Marshall County);
• Carol Hope Lucscious, 36, Wheeling, WV (cocaine distribution in Ohio County); and
• David Bushovisky, 47, Moundsville, WV (methamphetamine distribution in Marshall County)

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton Reid and Carly Nogay are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the United States.

The matters were investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, and the Marshall County Drug Task Force, each one 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.

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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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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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.

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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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.

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.

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, 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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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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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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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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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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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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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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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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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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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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.

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.

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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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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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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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.

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