West Virginia Residents Admit to Methamphetamine Charges

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA - Two West Virginia men have admitted to methamphetamine trafficking in Grant and Randolph Counties.

James Jerome Curtis, 41, of Petersburg, West Virginia, and Burlin Junior Howell, 59, of Elkins, West Virginia, each pled guilty to distributing methamphetamine. According to court documents, Curtis was selling methamphetamine in Grant County. Howell sold methamphetamine in Randolph County.

Curtis and Howell each face up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.

The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The task force is comprised of members from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Mineral County Sheriff's Office, the Hampshire County Sheriff's Office, the Hardy County Sheriff's Office, the Grant County Sheriff's Office, and the Keyser Police Department.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.