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Press Release

Martinsburg Man Charged In Heroin Death Case

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


1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Tara Tighe, Public Affairs Specialist


MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A West Virginia man has been indicted for allegedly delivering heroin that caused the death of a Berkeley County man.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that Keith WATSON, age 35 of Martinsburg, has been charged with “Distribution of Heroin” that led to the death of a 37-year old man in April of 2014. Because the delivery of heroin is alleged to have caused the death of another WATSON faces up to life in prison.

“Drug overdoses have become all too common in the Eastern Panhandle, especially those caused by heroin,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Whenever we can prove who supplied the drugs that caused an overdose or overdose death then we’ll be aggressive in prosecuting those responsible.”

WATSON is in custody at the Eastern Regional Jail and will appear for an arraignment in U.S. Magistrate Court today.

The case was investigated by the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarod J. Douglas. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Updated January 7, 2015