Cocaine Trafficking Plagues West Virginia – A 43-year-old Maryland man has been charged with cocaine trafficking in West Virginia. Antonio Cortez Darden, of Maugansville, Maryland, appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on drug and firearms charges.
According to the indictment, Darden was found to be in possession of cocaine hydrochloride in September 2019 in Berkeley County. The defendant faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug charge. He also faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms charge.
It is alleged that Darden, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of prior convictions, was found with a .45mm pistol in September 2019 in Berkeley County. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor F. Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the proceedings.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Darden is currently awaiting trial.
The case against Darden highlights the ongoing struggle against cocaine trafficking in West Virginia. As the investigation continues, the public remains vigilant and concerned about the impact of illicit substances on their community.
The authorities urge anyone with information about the case to come forward. For more information, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Related Federal Cases
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- Anthony Jones, Heroin and Cocaine Distribution, West Virginia 2023 · Virginia
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- William Thomas Stine, Heroin Trafficking, West Virginia 2024 · New York
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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