Six Drug Traffickers Sentenced to 37 Years in Prison
Six drug traffickers were sentenced in federal court to a combined 37 years in prison for distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine across the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Kenneth Robert Eversole Sentenced to 16-Year Term in Mineral County
Kenneth Robert Eversole, 48, of Keyser, West Virginia, received the longest sentence among the defendants. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh ordered Eversole to serve 168 months in federal prison following the discovery of large quantities of pressed fentanyl pills and methamphetamine in Mineral County.
Investigators identified Eversole as a source of supply for other drug traffickers in the Keyser area. During the execution of a search warrant at his duplex residence, authorities confiscated almost two pounds of methamphetamine, nearly three pounds of fentanyl, 150 pounds of marijuana, and a small amount of cocaine.
Officers also recovered five firearms, cash, body armor, and drug paraphernalia from the property. The seizure highlights the sheer scale of the operation dismantled by federal and local task forces operating in the region.
Berkeley County Distribution Ring Operatives Receive Five-Year Sentences
Brenton Daniel Berens, 38, and Shannon Lynn Smith, 40, both of Martinsburg, West Virginia, were each sentenced to 60 months in federal prison. The two maintained a residence in Berkeley County that served as a packaging and distribution hub for fentanyl and cocaine.
A search of their home yielded nearly one pound of fentanyl. Investigators traced the supply chain of these narcotics back to Rodney Harry Augustine of Baltimore, Maryland. Augustine was convicted for his role in the conspiracy and awaits sentencing in 2027.
Malachi Brian Maurice Younger, 23, received a 41-month prison sentence for his participation in trafficking fentanyl and cocaine across state lines between West Virginia and Maryland. Officers intercepted Younger during a traffic stop, recovering more than half a pound of cocaine, over 50 grams of fentanyl, and a quarter pound of marijuana from his vehicle.
Shawn Douglas Kile Sentenced to Ten Years for Methamphetamine Distribution
A federal prison sentence of 120 months was handed down to 29-year-old Shawn Douglas Kile of Keyser, West Virginia, for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Kile utilized social media platforms to communicate with customers and coordinate drug sales in Mineral County, ultimately moving slightly more than 93 grams of the substance.
The prosecutions were handled by Criminal Division Chief Lara Omps-Botteicher on behalf of the government. Multiple agencies contributed to the investigations, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Maryland State Police, the Hagerstown Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, the Washington County Narcotics Task Force, the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, and the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force.
Federal Authorities Target Cross-Border Drug Networks
U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey emphasized that the sentencings stem from a collaborative, multi-state enforcement strategy designed to root out high-level traffickers from local communities.
“These sentences reflect the commitment of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to protect our communities. Thanks to their exceptional teamwork, these dangerous traffickers have been removed from our streets, and our community is safer as a result,” Harvey said.
Harvey noted that the ongoing investigations align with the office’s Four Corners of Public Safety initiative, which aims to halt the influx of illegal narcotics into the Northern District of West Virginia. President Donald Trump has designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality and grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. These cases form a component of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting transnational criminal organizations and illegal drug cartels.