Maryland man admits to fentanyl charge

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Anthony Matthews, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, has pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Matthews and a co-defendant supplied fentanyl to at least 10 others who live in the Moorefield/Petersburg area of West Virginia. The others traveled to Matthews’ apartment and purchased fentanyl on hundreds of occasions, each time purchasing more than a personal-use quantity for the purpose of sales in West Virginia.

Matthews is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.