Keyser Resident Convicted on Drug Charges

MARTINSBURG, WV—A 51-year-old Keyser, West Virginia resident was convicted on March 13, 2013, by a Martinsburg jury on six counts. The trial lasted two days, concluding late afternoon Wednesday. Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the trial.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced that Charles Page Haines, III was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base from June 5 to June 28, 2012; four counts of distribution of cocaine base on June 5, June 6, and twice on June 7, 2012; and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premise from June 5 to June 28, 2012, all in Keyser, Mineral County, West Virginia.

Trial evidence indicated that Haines was involved with co-defendants Loren Constantine Brown and Crystal Starr Metz in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and provided his residence as a place from which the crack was distributed.

Haines, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine on each of the conspiracy and distribution counts and up to 20 years’ imprisonment and $500,000 fine on the maintaining a drug-involved premise count.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley and former Assistant United States Attorney Thomas O. Mucklow and investigated by the Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, consisting of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations.