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October 17, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Martinsburg Residents Enter Pleas to Drug Charges

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Two Martinsburg residents entered pleas of guilty in United States District Court in Martinsburg on October 11, 2012, before Magistrate Judge David J. Joel.

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

REBECCA FOWLER FAIRCLOTH, age 51, of Martinsburg, entered a plea of guilty to Distribution of Crack Cocaine on April 29, 2011. FAIRCLOTH, who is incustody pending sentencing, faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a $2,000,000 fine due to a prior felony conviction.

MELISSA JO NIECE, age 46, of Martinsburg, entered a plea of guilty to Distribution of Crack Cocaine within 1,000 Feet of Winchester Avenue School on October 4, 2010. NIECE, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces at least 1 and up to 40 years imprisonment and a $2,000,000 fine.

These cases were 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.