A Hagerstown, Maryland man admitted on Mar. 18 to his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking operation in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, which authorities say has connections to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico.
The case is significant due to its ties to international drug organizations and the volume of narcotics distributed within West Virginia communities. Authorities said the operation involved cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin.
David Reyes, 61, pled guilty to conspiracy charges related to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances. According to court statements, Reyes acted as a source of supply, organizer, and decision-maker within the conspiracy. He also worked with individuals in Puerto Rico to further the operation. Prosecutors said that Saul Alex Padilla-Garcia led the organization, which included Reyes among 17 others who trafficked fentanyl and cocaine from an autobody shop in Martinsburg. The group reportedly imported large quantities of drugs from Puerto Rico via the U.S. Postal Service as well as from a source connected to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Of the 18 defendants charged in this case, authorities report that 12 have entered guilty pleas and eight have been sentenced for their roles.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case for the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force led the investigation with assistance from multiple federal, state, and local agencies including several field offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; various county sheriff’s offices; police departments across West Virginia and neighboring states; as well as law enforcement agencies from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and California.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over proceedings.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction because even small amounts can be extremely lethal and pose serious risks to public safety. This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime.
