Martinsburg woman sentenced for role in cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl distribution operation

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jessica Sue Nicholson, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to one year of probation for her role in a cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl distribution operation, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.

Nicholson, 25, pleaded guilty in September 2019 to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine Hydrochloride, and Cocaine Base.” Nicholson admitted to working with others to distribute the drugs from May 2018 to January 2019 in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Assistant U.S Attorney Timothy D. Helman, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Martinsburg Police Department, the Charles Town Police Department, and the Ranson Police Department investigated.

The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.