Washington, D.C. man admits to drug charge

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Emmanuel Kwame West, of Washington, D.C., has admitted to selling heroin and fentanyl, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.

West also known as “Donte West,” 40, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl Mixture.” West admitted to selling a mixture of fentanyl and heroin in March 2021 in Berkeley County.

West faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million. 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 Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Martinsburg Police Department investigated. 

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