August 27, 2015

Seven Convicted in Baltimore-to-West Virginia Heroin Trafficking Operation

MARTINSBURG, WV—Seven individuals were convicted in federal court this week for their role 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 disrupted in June 2015 by a 163-count federal indictment encompassing 41 defendants.

Bonnie Hanna, 34, of Martinsburg, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.” She faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

James Ross, 32, of Martinsburg, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.” He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Harmony Hahn, 32, of Martinsburg, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” for which she faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. She also pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Interstate Travel in aid of Racketeering,” for which she faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Javier Howard, 32, and Cassandra Riggs, 26, both of Martinsburg, each pled guilty to one count of “Use of a Telephone to Facilitate the Distribution of Heroin,” and one count of “Aiding and Abetting Interstate Travel in aid of Racketeering.” They each face up to four years in prison for the telephone charge and five years in prison for the racketeering charge. They each also face a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.

Jessica Kesecker, 33, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and Teddy Edward Threadgill, 46, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia each pled guilty to one count of “Interstate Travel in aid of Racketeering.” They each face up to five years in prison and fine of up to $250,000.

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.