Eastern Panhandle man guilty of drug distribution and firearms charges

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Gregory Keith Clinton, of Kearneysville, West Virginia, was found guilty today by a jury of drug and firearm charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

After a three-day trial and two hours of deliberations, a jury found Clinton, age 57, guilty of one count of “Armed Career Criminal Act,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base,” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Hydrochloride.” He was also found guilty of one count of “Possession of Cocaine Base” and one count of “Possession of Cocaine.” Clinton, having previously been convicted of three felony drug charges, illegally possessed a .45-caliber pistol and possessed crack cocaine and coke in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties in July 2016. 

“I appreciate the hard work of our dedicated trial team.  We will continue to relentlessly pursue those who violate our drug and firearm laws.  Our community is safer today because of the jury’s verdict,” said Powell.

Clinton faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the first count, and faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the each of the “Possession with Intent to Distribute” counts. Clinton also faces up to one year incarceration and a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 for each of the possession counts. 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 Anna Z. Krasinski and Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth D. Grant, also with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
 
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.