Drug Lab Found in Berkeley County Home Lands Man in Federal Prison

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Methamphetamine sold from a Berkeley County man's home leads investigators to a drug laboratory and sends the occupant to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.

Joseph Paul Boyer, 34, of Gerrardstown, West Virginia, was sentenced to 168 months in prison. Boyer was selling large quantities of methamphetamine from his home. Investigators executed a search warrant on his residence and seized approximately 85 grams of methamphetamine, several marijuana plants, syringes, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia. During another search, officers discovered an active clandestine drug laboratory in Boyer's garage and seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, ketamine, and cocaine base.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated.

Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.

U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.