September 30, 2015

Three Martinsburg Residents Convicted in Baltimore-to-West Virginia Heroin Trafficking Operation

MARTINSBURG, WV—Three individuals were convicted in federal court this week for their involvement in a multi-state heroin trafficking operation, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

The defendants convicted this week participated in a drug trafficking scheme in which heroin was transported across state lines from Baltimore, Maryland into West Virginia. The operation was interrupted in June 2015 by a 163-count federal indictment encompassing 41 defendants.

Veronica Gladden, 32, of Martinsburg, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering.” She faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Scott Andrew Ours, 33, and James Miner Jenkins, 37, both of Martinsburg, each pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.” They each face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski and Paul Camilletti prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the inquiry.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.