1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Chris Zumpetta-Parr, Public Affairs Specialist

April 4, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Philadelphia Resident Enters Plea in Federal Court

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — A 35-year old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, resident, formerly of Newell, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty on April 3, 2012, in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced that: GILBERTO MELENDEZ entered a plea of guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine from January to December of 2011 in the Hancock County area. MELENDEZ, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr and was investigated by the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations, working with the Youngstown DEA/ICE Task Force.