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December 4, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Star City Resident Entered Guilty Pleas to
Drug and Firearms Charges

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A 37 year old Star City, West Virginia, resident entered guilty pleas on November 19, 2009, in United States District Court in Clarksburg before Judge Irene M. Keeley.

Acting United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen announced that GALEN WINTON entered guilty pleas to two counts of an Indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm on June 27, 2008, in Monongalia County; and one count of distribution of “crack” cocaine on January 21, 2009, in Monongalia County.

WINTON, who is currently in custody, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on the firearms charge; and a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 on the drug charge.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley. The case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigations; the Mon Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Mon Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force consists of officers from the Morgantown Police Department, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.