A 53-year-old woman from Westernport, Maryland admitted to selling cocaine in Mineral County, West Virginia, in October 2016, according to federal prosecutors. Shelley Kay Snyder-Windle pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine” in U.S. District Court, marking a pivotal moment in a years-long federal case.
Snyder-Windle admitted to personally distributing the controlled substance during a criminal transaction that drew the attention of regional law enforcement. The sale occurred in a jurisdiction with heightened scrutiny from federal drug task forces, amplifying the severity of the charge under federal law.
As a result of her guilty plea, Snyder-Windle now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The exact sentence will be determined by U.S. District Court judges applying the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, weighing the seriousness of the offense and any prior criminal history.
The investigation was led by the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force in coordination with the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Their joint efforts dismantled a small but active drug network operating across state lines into rural West Virginia counties.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Grant, detailed from the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, is prosecuting the case. She emphasized the federal commitment to targeting drug suppliers, not just users, in communities ravaged by the opioid and stimulant crises.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the initial hearing. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, with federal authorities vowing continued crackdowns on interstate narcotics trafficking in Appalachia.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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