By DANYEL VANREENEN
The Journal
MARTINSBURGm W.Va. — A Pennsylvania man was charged with trafficking oxycodone into the Eastern Panhandle thanks to the partnership between West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Acting U.S. Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen.
Morrisey said it was the eighth conviction credited to the partnership, which was announced December 2015. According to Morrisey, the partnership involves two lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office serving as special assistant U.S. attorneys. It also builds on existing substance abuse prevention and education initiatives targeting West Virginia youth, according to Morrisey’s office.
The eighth conviction yielded Steven Bruce Mathis, 52, of Biglerville, Pennsylvania, who pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.
“Mathis faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine, although his actual sentence will depend upon federal guidelines that measure the seriousness of the offense and any prior criminal conduct. He will be sentenced at a later date,” Morrisey announced.
Morrisey said the acting partnership with the U.S. Attorney would continue to bring those bringing drugs into the state to justice.
“We also will continue to build upon current substance abuse prevention and education initiatives targeting West Virginia youth. This issue affects far too many West Virginians, and we must do everything in our power to alleviate this scourge on the place we all call home,” Morrisey said.’
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