Amanda Marshall Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution in West Virginia

Amanda Marshall, 30, of Ranson, West Virginia, has admitted her role in a heroin distribution operation that fed the opioid crisis in Jefferson County. The guilty plea marks another conviction in the federal crackdown on hard drug networks in rural Appalachia.

Marshall pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin,” a charge stemming from her arrest on June 29, 2016, in Berkeley County. That day, law enforcement seized heroin tied directly to her possession and intended sale.

Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen confirmed the plea, underscoring the feds’ relentless push against drug traffickers exploiting vulnerable communities. “This is not victimless crime,” Jividen stated. “Every packet of heroin destroys lives. We’re holding distributors accountable.”

Marshall now faces up to twenty years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the final sentence will hinge on the severity of her actions and any prior criminal record the court uncovers at sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force—a HIDTA-funded initiative targeting regional narcotics rings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski handled prosecution, building the government’s case on solid forensic and surveillance evidence.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the hearing, where Marshall formally entered her plea. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, as federal authorities continue dismantling the broader network she allegedly supported.