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October 17, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Martinsburg Resident Enters Pleas of Guilty in Federal Court

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A 30-year old Martinsburg, West Virginia, resident entered a plea of guilty on October 14, 2011, in United States District Court in Martinsburg before Magistrate Judge David J. Joel.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced that: STEVEN CRAIG MCDANIEL entered pleas of guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to a drug offense. On June 11, 2010, during a search warrant conducted at MCDANIEL’s residence, agents seized 348.2 grams of cocaine and a Glock pistol. MCDANIEL, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,00 on the drug charge and five years to life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on the firearms charge.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas O. Mucklow and was investigated by agents of 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.