Martinsburg man admits to distributing fentanyl in Berkeley County | Journal-news

MARTINSBURG — A Martinsburg man has admitted to distributing fentanyl in 2018 in Berkeley County, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell said.

Nicholas Wayne Deminds, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. By doing so, he admitted to distributing more than 25 grams of fentanyl in December in Berkeley County.

In addition to his plea, Deminds agreed to forfeit a box of 20 rounds of ammunition and $4,523.

He faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million. 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 defendant.

Deminds has also been indicted in Federal Court on charges stemming from an investigation into a drug-selling operation known as “Operation Triple Crown” in Berkeley and Jefferson counties. The 33 individuals in the case are alleged to be involved in the operation which distributed heroin, cocaine and fentanyl.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program, which supplies “critical” federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

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