Upshur County woman admits to her role in a methamphetamine distribution operation

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A Buckhannon, West Virginia woman has admitted today to maintaining a drug-involved place, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced. 

Cassandra Tahj Riffle, also known as “Cassie Hickman,” age 31, pled guilty to one count of “Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises.” Riffle admitted to using a place in Buckhannon to distribute and use methamphetamine. The crime occurred in Upshur County in May 2017. 

Riffle faces 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. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, the Greater Harrison Drug &Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the West Virginia State Police, Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Buckhannon Police Department, and the Weston 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.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.