ROMNEY, W.Va. — More than two dozen people are charged with being part of a drug ring in the Potomac Highlands and Eastern Panhandle regions of West Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld announced Thursday 26 people have been indicted by a federal grand jury for the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
Ihlenfeld appeared with representatives of law enforcement agencies at a Thursday news conference in Romney.
“What was a major drug operation in that part of the state, we’ve disrupted the supply from Pittsburgh to the eastern panhandle,” Ihlenfeld said on MetroNews “Talkline” Thursday. “Hopefully, we’ve put a dent in the problem; obviously, we can’t make it go away with just one roundup.”
Ihlenfeld said Dorian Scott Burks, also known as “Cash,” 28, of Pittsburgh, provided methamphetamine to Andrew Ross Hose, 54, of Berkeley Springs. Then Hose and others redistributed methamphetamine, as well as fentanyl and cocaine, in Hampshire, Morgan, and Berkeley counties.
Officers seized drugs, guns and money during their investigation.
“It’s a good day in places like Romney, Berkley Springs, and Bunker Hill to be able to identify these people and get them in handcuffs,” Ihlenfeld said. “I anticipate getting them federal convictions, some time in prison, and supervised release on the other side.”
Ihlenfeld said the drugs are coming from the southern border of the United States, and in many cases, they are manufactured in Mexico using precursors from China.
“The highest level we could get in this particular investigation was someone from Pittsburgh and that’s not unusual in cases where we bring someone to a major city like Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland, or Baltimore,” Ihlenfeld said.
Suspects from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia were charged with drug trafficking for assisting Burkes and Hose in the indictment.
“Then you have people below them that are less sophisticated and more in it to make a few bucks and supply their own habit, so there are verying levels,” Ihlenfeld said.
The investigation was conducted by the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, which is comprised of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keyser Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Berkeley County and Hampshire County Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices assisted.
Those indicted include:
John William Malcolm, 56, of Huntington, West Virginia
Alexis Mary Walsh, 29, of Verona, Pennsylvania
Stephen Michael Leeper, also known as “Pee Wee,” 59, of High View, West Virginia
Andrew Scott Sager, 54, of Berkeley Springs
Teresa Danielle Pyles, also known as “Tree,” 29, of Romney
Whitney Lynn Mathias, 34, of Cross Junction, Virginia
Hailey Lynn Oliff, 27, of Keyser
Marilynn Hope Baker, 26, of Shanks
Michael Lee Ramsbottom, 67, of Berkeley Springs
Shaylyn Boutilier, 32, of Romney
James Palmer Hodge, also known as “Jimmy,” 52, of Shanks
Gary Lee Whetzel, 61, of Berkeley Springs
Phyllis Susan Forbes, 37, of Romney
Sathira Ewers, 41, of Purgitsville
Lance Reed King, 48, of Berkeley Springs
Bobby Dillon, 38, of Hedgesville
Michael Steven Manzie, 37, of Cross Junction, Virginia
Bradley Allen Lopp, 34, of Bunker Hill
Jacobe Wesley Goforth, 29, of Martinsburg
Eric Keith Turner, 37, of Winchester, Virginia
Kyle Andrew Sensel, 23, of Falling Waters
Amy Nicole Mayhew, 35, of Falling Waters
Kelly Mills, 34, of Middletown, Virginia
Lottie Broadway, 23, of Martinsburg