Mineral County woman admits to drug distribution and firearms charges

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Erica Lucinda Taylor, of Piedmont, West Virginia, has admitted to a drug distribution charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Taylor, age 30, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Fentanyl.” Taylor admitted to selling fentanyl in February 2018 in Mineral County.

Taylor faces up to up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. 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.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.