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February 4, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Petersburg Residents Enter Guilty Pleas
To Methamphetamine Charge

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — Two Petersburg, West Virginia, residents entered guilty pleas on February 3, 2011, in United States District Court in Martinsburg before Magistrate Judge David J. Joel.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that STARTISHA ELIZABETH KEPLINGER, age 21, and JAMES DANIEL TAWNEY, IV, age 25, both of Petersburg, West Virginia, entered guilty pleas to a one-count Information charging them with aiding and abetting in the distribution of methamphetamine in Petersburg on May 31, 2010.

KEPLINGER and TAWNEY, who are currently free on bond pending sentencing, each face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas O. Mucklow. The case was investigated by the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and Mineral County Sheriff’s Department.