Berkeley County man sentenced to 15 years for fentanyl distribution
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Bradley Markley, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 180 months incarceration for distributing fentanyl, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
“Fentanyl kills. A lethal dose is only two milligrams—about the mass of two grains of salt. Unfortunately, the entrance of fentanyl into the opioid crisis has only exasperated the dangers to our community. The dangers extend to law enforcement who risk their own lives by mere exposure to fentanyl. Our prosecutors have made fentanyl cases a priority, and we will be adding additional resources to combat the increased workload. The dangers to our community are real and our efforts will be unrelenting,” said Powell.
Markley, age 32, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl and Acetyl Fentanyl” in March 2018. Markley admitted to distributing the drugs in October 2016 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Z. Krasinski and Lara K. Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.