Six sentenced to combined 37 years in federal prison for drug trafficking (DOJ)

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Six drug traffickers were sentenced today to a combined 37 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.

The separate cases are a part of a collaborative effort by multiple states and jurisdictions to arrest offenders and remove deadly drugs from our communities. Those sentenced are:

• Kenneth Robert Eversole, 48, of Keyser, West Virginia, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for having more than 400 grams of fentanyl in Mineral County. Eversole was a source of supply for other drug traffickers in the Keyser area, distributing large quantities of pressed fentanyl pills and methamphetamine. Investigators determined Eversole distributed hundreds of fentanyl pills and executed a search warrant at the duplex where he resided. Officers seized nearly three pounds of fentanyl, almost two pounds of methamphetamine, 150 pounds of marijuana, and a small amount of cocaine. Along with the drugs, officers seized five firearms, cash, body armor, and drug paraphernalia.
• Brenton Daniel Berens, 38, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and Shannon Lynn Smith, 40, was sentenced to 60 months for their roles in a drug trafficking operation selling fentanyl and cocaine in Berkeley County. Berens and Smith, both of Martinsburg, West Virginia, maintained a residence to store and package the drugs to serve as a distribution hub for the operation. Officers searched the home and seized nearly one pound of fentanyl. Investigators traced the drugs back to a Baltimore, Maryland man, Rodney Harry Augustine. Augustine was convicted for his role in this case and will be sentenced in 2027.
• Malachi Brian Maurice Younger, 23, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in Berkeley County. Younger was selling fentanyl and cocaine in West Virginia and Maryland, crossing state lines to continue his drug operation. During a traffic stop, officers seized more than a half a pound of cocaine, more than 50 grams of fentanyl, and a quarter pound of marijuana from his vehicle.
• Shawn Douglas Kile, 29, of Keyser, West Virginia, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Kile was selling methamphetamine, sometimes using his social media to communicate with customers. Investigators determined he sold a little more than 93 grams of methamphetamine in Mineral County.

"These sentences reflect the commitment of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to protect our communities. Thanks to their exceptional teamwork, these dangerous traffickers have been removed from our streets, and our community is safer as a result. But our work does not end here. My office will continue to aggressively pursue those who choose to traffic deadly drugs into West Virginia and will remain relentless in our efforts to eliminate drug networks wherever they operate," said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.

Criminal Division Chief Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Washington County, Maryland Narcotics Task Force; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Maryland State Police; the Hagerstown, MD Police Department; and the Washington County, MD Sheriff's Department.

The prosecution of these cases directly advances a core priority of our office's Four Corners of Public Safety initiative: stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the Northern District of West Virginia. Drug trafficking poses a serious threat to public safety, fueling addiction, harming families, and endangering communities. By focusing on dismantling drug trafficking activity, this effort reinforces our commitment to keeping dangerous drugs off the streets and safeguarding the people of Northern District of West Virginia. To learn more about the Four Corners of Public Safety, click here.

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.