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Press Release

Four sentenced on drug trafficking charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four individuals were sentenced in federal court in Clarksburg today on drug trafficking charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Natasha Nicole Selmon, 34, of Shinnston, West Virginia, Jessica Earnest, 32, of Mount Clare, West Virginia, and Stephanie Michelle Furner, 35, of Salem, West Virginia, were each involved in the distribution of bath salts known as “Power X Energy Soak.” The bath salts contained a controlled substance known as “α-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone” or “α-PVP.”

Selmon and Earnest each pled guilty in November 2014 to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substance Analogue – Aiding and Abetting” Selmon was sentenced today to 18 months in prison with credit for time served since February 2015. Earnest was sentenced today to 6 months in prison.

Furner pled guilty in November 2014 to one count of “Distribution of Controlled Substance Analogue – Aiding and Abetting.” She was sentenced today to 5 months in prison.

Eric Holt, 44, of Lumberport, West Virginia, was sentenced today to three years of probation for selling crack cocaine in Harrison County, West Virginia. He pled guilty in November 2014 to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base - Aiding and Abetting.” Holt will serve the first four months of his probation on home detention.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.

Updated January 8, 2016