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Heroin Salesmen Sentenced in Martinsburg
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – In a disturbing revelation, two Martinsburg residents, Benjamin Chavis, II, age 54, and Charlotte Jenkins Smith, age 39, have been convicted of selling heroin in the Berkeley County area. The news comes as a stark reminder of the ongoing opioid crisis plaguing the nation.
According to sources, Chavis and Smith entered pleas of guilty to ‘Distribution of Heroin’ in the Berkeley County area. They currently remain free on bond pending sentencing, facing up to 20 years imprisonment.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. and were investigated by the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Martinsburg Police Department, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.
In a separate case, Nikki Rene Ellison, age 25, of Martinsburg, entered a plea of guilty to ‘False Representation in Application for a United States Passport.’ Ellison, who is also free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 10 years imprisonment.
Ellison’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarod J. Douglas and investigated by the United States Department of State, Diplomatic Services.
As the nation grapples with the opioid epidemic, it is imperative that those responsible for distributing these deadly substances are held accountable. The convictions of Chavis, Smith, and Ellison serve as a reminder of the severity of these crimes and the importance of continued efforts to combat them.
The United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, William J. Ihlenfeld, II, stated that the convictions are a significant step towards addressing the heroin crisis in the region. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators to justice.
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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