Brandi Kern, 22, Admits to Heroin Distribution in West Virginia

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A 22-year-old woman from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to heroin distribution charges, according to federal authorities.

Brandi Kern was convicted of one count of “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility” after admitting to using a telephone to distribute heroin in Jefferson County and elsewhere, including Baltimore, Maryland, in May 2016.

Kern faces up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. The actual sentence will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant, under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the case. Kern will be sentenced at a later date.

The heroin distribution charges against Kern are a reminder of the ongoing opioid crisis affecting communities across the country. Grimy Times will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Kern’s guilty plea brings an end to a lengthy investigation into heroin distribution in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The case highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime.

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