ELKINS — A Maryland woman pleaded guilty March 6 to trafficking cocaine in Mineral County, marking the 12th drug conviction secured through a partnership between West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and U.S. Attorney Bill Powell.
Shelley Kay Snyder-Windle, 53, of Westernport, Md., pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine. It stemmed from a cocaine transaction in October 2016 in Mineral County.
“We must eradicate drug abuse in every form,” Morrisey said. “Those who perpetuate the drug epidemic must be held accountable, and this conviction exemplifies what can happen when government agencies work toward a common goal.
The partnership involves two lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office serving as special assistant U.S. attorneys.
The Snyder-Windle indictment marked the partnership’s first case brought in Mineral County.
Snyder-Windle faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1 million, although any actual punishment will depend upon federal guidelines that measure the seriousness of the offense and any prior criminal history.
West Virginia Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Grant prosecuted the Snyder-Windle case in her dual role as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. It was investigated by the Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the West Virginia State Police.
