MARTINSBURG – A Maryland man was found guilty by a jury of trafficking heroin, yet another conviction credited in part to a continuing partnership between West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and U.S. Attorney Bill Powell.
Christopher Wigfall, 38, was found guilty of two counts of distribution of heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. The activity occurred in December 2014 in Berkeley County.
“Our partnership has proven time and time again that success can be achieved when government agencies work together to eradicate the drug epidemic,” Morrisey said. “Those who attempt to profit from pushing poison into our communities are not welcome in West Virginia.”
Wigfall is also facing an additional count of unlawful possession of a firearm after being accused of illegally possessing a .40 caliber pistol in March 2015 in Berkeley County.
He faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million for each count, although his actual sentence will depend upon federal guidelines that measure the seriousness of his offense and any prior criminal conduct. He will be sentenced at a later date.
The partnership, announced in December 2015, involves two lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office serving as special assistant U.S. attorneys. To date, the work of those attorneys has led to or assisted in the government securing 11 convictions.
West Virginia Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Grant assisted in the government’s prosecution in her dual role as a special assistant U.S. attorney. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski also prosecuted the case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.