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July 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fairmont Resident Indicted on
“Crack” and “Coke” Charges

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A 20 year old Fairmont, West Virginia, resident was named in an Indictment returned on July 7, 2009, by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

United States Attorney Sharon L. Potter announced that HOWARD MICAL RASHAUM ENGLISH was named in a four-count Indictment. Count One of the Indictment alleges that ENGLISH conspired to distribute in excess of five grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack” from the Fall of 2007 to July 2009 within the Northern District of West Virginia. Count Two of the Indictment alleges that ENGLISH possessed with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine on October 2, 2007, in Marion County. Count Three of the Indictment alleges that ENGLISH distributed “coke” on June 5, 2008, in Marion County. Count Four of the Indictment alleges that ENGLISH distributed in excess of five grams of “crack” cocaine within 1,000 feet of Windmill Park playground in Marion County on December 8, 2008.

If convicted, ENGLISH faces a maximum penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000 on Count One of the Indictment; a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 each on Counts Two and Three of the Indictment; and a maximum penalty of 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000 on Count Four of the Indictment.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley. The case was investigated by the Three Rivers Drug Task Force, consisting of officers from the Fairmont Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

It should be noted that the charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.