Ohio County woman admits to fentanyl distribution

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Paula Blake, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to drug distribution, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Blake, age 43, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances” and one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl within 1000 feet of a Protected Location.” Blake admitted to working with others to distribute cocaine base or “crack,” heroin, and fentanyl from September 2018 to June 2019 in Ohio County and elsewhere. She also admitted to selling fentanyl near Luau Manor in June 2019.

Blake faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the conspiracy count, and faces at least one and up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000 for the distribution count. 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.