MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Baltimore-based drug trafficking organizations that provided giant quantities of fentanyl to West Virginia and brought about not less than two deaths have been dismantled by separate federal indictments that had been unsealed right this moment.
Thirty-four folks from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia had been indicted on prices associated to the sale of fentanyl, heroin and different medicine in Hampshire County and Mineral County. The medicine distributed led to a spike in overdoses within the area, each deadly and non-fatal. A lot of the fentanyl had excessive ranges of purity and had a purple tint to differentiate it from medicine bought by opponents.
Within the first indictment, Kentrel Anthony Rollins, also referred to as “T-Rock,” age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland is alleged to be the chief of a fentanyl distribution operation in Hampshire County and elsewhere from January 2020 to October 2021. Court docket paperwork present that along with the sale of medicine, there was firearms trafficking and the buying and selling of weapons for medicine. Most of the firearms had been acquired by a straw purchaser on behalf of the group. Twelve persons are charged on this matter, which additionally contains the alleged trafficking of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine.
Within the second indictment, Sean Jarred Davis, age 31, additionally of Baltimore, is alleged to be the chief of a conspiracy to distribute greater than 40 grams of fentanyl, in addition to heroin, in Hampshire County and elsewhere from February 2021 to January 2023. A complete of twenty-two people are charged within the case.
“Fentanyl continues to be the primary menace to public security within the area and far of it flows right here from Baltimore,” mentioned United States Lawyer William Ihlenfeld. “The investigators are to be recommended for his or her excellent work in figuring out the sources of provide and halting their operations.”
The Potomac Highlands Drug Job Pressure, a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the investigations. The Job Pressure consists of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Workplace, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Workplace, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Workplace, the Grant County Sheriff’s Workplace, and the Keyser Police Division. The Hampshire County Prosecutor’s Workplace assisted.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the circumstances on behalf of the federal government.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible.