MARTINSBURG, WV—Four individuals were sentenced in federal court today for heroin trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

The defendants sentenced today participated in a heroin trafficking scheme based in Baltimore, Maryland. As part of the operation, a large group of individuals repeatedly traveled across state lines to the Baltimore area to procure heroin. The drug was then transported to various locations in Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania for redistribution and sale. The operation was interrupted by a 163-count federal indictment following an investigation by the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

William Thomas Stine, 40, of Martinsburg, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison. He pled guilty in August 2015 to “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.”

Melissa Dawn Portrey, 47, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison. She pled guilty in August 2015 to “Aiding and Abetting Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering.”

Frederick Smitherman, 37, of Inwood, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison. He pled guilty in August 2015 to “Aiding and Abetting Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering.”

Brandon Lee Odell, 33, of Inwood, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 months in prison. He pled guilty in August 2015 to “Aiding and Abetting Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.”

In another matter, Timothy William Cook, 30, of Martinsburg, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for heroin trafficking. He was discovered in May 2014 in possession of heroin in Berkeley County, West Virginia. He pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin” following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski and Paul Camilletti prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.

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