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June 26, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Martinsburg Resident Arrested on Drug Charges

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A 35-year old Martinsburg, West Virginia, resident was arrested today by the United States Marshals Service on charges of drug trafficking in the Eastern Panhandle.

According to United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, MICHAEL PIERRE CHRISTIAN is charged with four counts of “Distribution of Crack Cocaine” in Martinsburg.
CHRISTIAN appeared in court this morning for an initial appearance and was released with conditions. He faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 on each count.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas O. Mucklow and was 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.

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.