1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

January 26, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Wheeling Residents Plead Guilty
to Ecstasy Distribution

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — Two Wheeling residents entered guilty pleas on January 25, 2011, in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that RYAN P. FADUL, age 23, and BRYAN KNORR, age 33, entered guilty pleas for their roles in distributing ecstasy pills, containing 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine. FADUL pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute while KNORR pled guilty to aiding and abetting FADUL in the distribution of ecstasy within 1,000 feet of a protected location.

These guilty pleas arise from an investigation in the Summer of 2010 by the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force (Task Force) which resulted in four controlled buys being made in July and ended in the search of FADUL’s residence in the North Park area of Wheeling. The Task Force was able to purchase from the two men a total of 111 ecstasy pills in exchange for $1,130. When the Task Force executed the search warrant following the last buy, officers seized $1,192 including $530 of previously recorded buy money, a digital scale, and an additional 929 ecstasy tablets, with a street value in excess of $8,000.

The DEA Mid-Atlantic Laboratory has determined all the substances seized from FADUL’s residence or distributed by him to the confidential informant, contained 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy).

As part of his plea, FADUL agreed to forfeit the $1,192 seized during the search and to reimburse the Task Force $630 for monies spent during the investigation and not recovered.

FADUL, who is currently free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

KNORR, who is currently in custody, faces a maximum penalty of 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr.

The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force consists of officers from the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.