Over the past year, drug task forces in the Northern District of West Virginia have seized significant quantities of illegal drugs, including more than 27 kilograms of fentanyl, 22 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 13 kilograms of cocaine. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard in Elkins, West Virginia.
The nine drug task forces operating in the region are: Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, Mon Metro Drug Task Force, Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, Mountain Region Drug Task Force, Marshall County Drug Task Force, and Three Rivers Drug Task Force. Eight of these are funded through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas initiative (HIDTA).
“Since taking office, President Trump has made it a priority to eliminate drug cartels, reduce violent crime and end illegal immigration. As part of Operation Take Back America, we, in law enforcement, have been tasked with surging all federal and local resources to combat those crimes,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Bernard. “It is a moral imperative that we strive to enhance the quality of life in all communities caught in the crossfire. The results we have seen from the task forces within the NDWV prove those efforts have been effective.”
During his remarks in Elkins, Bernard highlighted recent cases investigated by the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force. In one case involving fentanyl distribution from Baltimore to Grant County dealers in West Virginia, Daniela Marie Giancoli was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison while her co-defendant Michael Matthews received a sentence of 100 months. Nearly 9,000 fentanyl pills weighing over two kilograms were seized.
Another case involved Wesley Neal Carter from Moorefield who was sentenced to 240 months for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Law enforcement found nearly three pounds of crystal methamphetamine during a search at Carter’s property. Several individuals distributing drugs for Carter also received sentences ranging from over a decade to more than sixteen years.
Carl Demetrio Valdez of Craigsville pleaded guilty as Carter’s supplier and is awaiting sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted these cases on behalf of the government.
Investigations were conducted by multiple agencies including the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force (a HIDTA-funded initiative), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Moorefield Police Department, FBI-Baltimore Division, U.S. Marshals Service, Virginia State Police, RUSH Task Force (Virginia), and Homeland Security Investigations-Harrisonburg (Virginia). The Potomac Highlands group includes members from several sheriff’s offices as well as state and federal agencies.
These actions fall under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort using Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations—and coordinate with programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
