Berkeley County man admits to heroin charge

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Ross Valentine, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to heroin distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Valentine, age 35, pled guilty one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession With Intent to Distribute Heroin.” Valentine admitted to possessing and distributing heroin in September 2017 in Berkeley County.

Valentine 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 Omps-Botteicher and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Grant, also with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.