ELKINS, W.Va. –Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District, Randolph Bernard, took time Wednesday to applaud the efforts of the drug task forces in the district for continuing to take down drug operations across the state.
The northern district is currently made up nine different drug task forces, including the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, the Marshall County Drug Task Force, and the Three Rivers Drug Task Force.
Bernard said that in the past year, the task forces have helped seize more than 27 kilograms of fentanyl, 22 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 13 kilograms of cocaine.
He said these seizures show their commitment to combating the drug crisis.
“We are committed, I know everyone on this stage I know is committed to ending the impact the drug crisis has visit upon our towns including increase addiction rates, overdoses, increase crime particularly property crimes and violent crimes and the destruction that we see in our communities.” Bernard said during a press briefing in Elkins Wednesday afternoon.
He also took time to highlight a few of the cases the task forces worked on over the past year
In the first case, Daniela Marie Giancoli, 36, and Michael Matthews, 36, both of Baltimore, were arrested for working together to sell drugs out of Giancoli’s apartment.
Bernard said that they were selling to drug dealers from Grant and Hardy Counties. During the investigation, they were able to seize nearly 9,000 fentanyl pills which weighed more than two kilograms.
Giancoli was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison, while Matthews received a sentence of more than eight years.
In the second case, Bernard said it is an example of what happens when everyone works together to combat this issue.
“This case is a perfect reflection of what we can do when we all work together, not just in West Virginia but across state borders,” he said.
Wesley Neal Carter, 35, of Moorefield and Carl Demetrio Valdez, 37, of Craigsville, Virginia were arrested for conspiracy.
He said the task force in West Virginia discovered that the RUSH Task Force in Virginia had an open case against Valdez, while they had their own case against Carter.
Bernard said the task forces were able to work together to apprehend both Carter and Valdez.
“Through the surveillance, they were able to track their movements, throughout West Virginia, throughout Virginia, they were also able to make controlled buys off these individuals, off of Valdez in particular in Virginia, which ultimately led to a traffic stop and the seizure in Virginia of a half a pound of methamphetamine,” he said.
Bernard explained that after Valdez’s arrest they were able to obtain a search warrant for Carter’s residence and seized almost three pounds of methamphetamine.
Carter was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Valdez is currently awaiting sentencing.
Bernard said they were able to prosecute individuals who were distributing drugs for Carter. William Flinn, 46, of Moorefield, was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison; Christian Adam Fisher, of Petersburg, was sentenced to 12 years; Steven Ray Davy Jr., 38, was sentenced to 14 years; and Keisha Rae Ogline, 35, of Moorefield, was also sentenced to 14 years.
He said he is often asked whether these lengthy sentences are worth it. He said yes.
“Let’s face it methamphetamine and fentanyl kill, they are poison, and you know if we’ve saved but one life or made one community better, then absolutely those these efforts and those sentences are worth it,” he said.
These efforts fall under Operation Take Back America.