Paul David Fairburn, Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Heroin and Cocaine Base, West Virginia 2021

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Maryland man has admitted to a crime that will send shockwaves through the community: Paul David Fairburn, a 27-year-old from Hagerstown, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other narcotics in Berkeley County and elsewhere in West Virginia.

According to court documents, Fairburn worked with others to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine hydrochloride from August 2020 to June 2021. The combined weight of the narcotics was between 40 and 60 kilograms.

The charges against Fairburn are serious: one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Heroin and Cocaine Base. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the case, accepting Fairburn's guilty plea.

Fairburn's sentence will depend on the seriousness of the offenses and his prior criminal history, if any. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based on these factors.

The community is breathing a sigh of relief that Fairburn has been held accountable for his crimes. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to keeping our communities safe.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/maryland-man-admits-drug-charge-3