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August 8, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Individuals Enter Pleas in Federal Court

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Two individuals entered pleas of guilty on August 7, 2012, in United States District Court in Martinsburg before Magistrate Judge David J. Joel.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that

MATTHEW EARL THOMAS, of Charles Town, West Virginia, and formerly of Waco, Texas, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. THOMAS, who had been indicted in the Western District of Texas on February 11, 2003, was arrested in Charles Town on June 18, 2012, after police answered a complaint that people were driving around shooting from a car and THOMAS admitted to possessing and shooting the firearm. THOMAS then agreed to proceed with his case in the Northern District of West Virginia where he is currently residing. THOMAS is in custody pending sentencing and faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul T. Camilletti and investigated by the Waco, Texas, Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

WILLIAM THOMAS GARDNER, age 45, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, entered a plea to one count the Distribution of Heroin in Martinsburg. GARDNER, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas O. Mucklow and investigated by 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.