Ataiah J. Turner, Distribution of Fentanyl, West Virginia 2022

By: Grimy Times Staff

A Martinsburg woman has been sentenced to time served for her role in a fentanyl trafficking operation in Berkeley County. Ataiah J. Turner, also known as ‘Queen,’ pleaded guilty in January 2022 to one count of Distribution of Fentanyl in connection with the sale of the deadly opioid in January 2021.

Turner, 26, admitted to selling fentanyl in Berkeley County, which has been at the forefront of the opioid epidemic in West Virginia. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Helman prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The investigation and subsequent conviction of Turner are a significant blow to the fentanyl trafficking operation in the region.

U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the case, handing down the sentence of time served for Turner. The exact amount of time served was not disclosed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The sentencing of Turner serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle to combat the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and across the country. The Grimy Times will continue to provide in-depth coverage of the region’s most pressing issues.

As the Grimy Times continues to investigate and expose the facts surrounding the opioid epidemic, we urge readers to share their stories and information with us. Your tips can help us shed light on the darkness and bring justice to those affected by these crimes.

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