Two plead guilty to methamphetamine trafficking

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Two individuals pled guilty to methamphetamine trafficking today in federal court in Elkins, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Donald Ray Cantrell, 40, of Mill Creek, West Virginia, was discovered in possession of methamphetamine in March 2016 in Randolph County, West Virginia. Following an investigation by the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, he pled guilty today to one count of "Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine." He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Samuel Lee Winebrenner, 29, of Petersburg, West Virginia, sold morphine in Grant County, West Virginia. Following an investigation by the Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, he pled guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Morphine.” He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. As part of the plea agreement entered today, Winebrenner withdrew a guilty plea previously entered in April 2016 in which he admitted to selling morphine near a protected location.

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 defendants.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.