Wheeling man indicted for cocaine distribution and operating a drug house

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael E. Stradwick, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has been indicted for allegedly distributing cocaine and maintaining a house for drug distribution, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, announced.

Stradwick, age 37, was indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base” and one count of “Maintaining Drug-involved Premises.” The crimes are alleged to have occurred in January 2017 in Wheeling, Ohio County.

Stradwick faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for count one. He faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 for count two. 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.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Anthony Martin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
 
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.