Berkeley County man admits to cocaine charge

MARTISNBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Martinsburg, West Virginia man has admitted to distributing cocaine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Michael Jacque Severe, age 33, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base.” Severe conspired with others to distribute crack cocaine in Berkeley County from April 2015 to February 2017. 

Severe faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. 
 
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.