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Press Release

Martinsburg man charged in heroin death

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of West Virginia

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Jose Roberts, 62, of Martinsburg, appeared in federal court today for an Arraignment and Detention Hearing on charges that heroin sold by Roberts caused the death of a female victim, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

The female victim died after using heroin allegedly purchased from Roberts in Berkeley County, West Virginia in May 2014. Earlier this month, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Roberts with:

• One count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Heroin – Death and Serious Bodily Injury,” for which he faces between twenty years and life in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00,
• One count of “Distribution of Heroin,” for which he faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and
• One count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” for which he faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.00.
Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Roberts is currently scheduled for trial on May 26, 2015.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.

Updated January 8, 2016