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February 12, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three Martinsburg Residents Enter Pleas in Federal Court

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — Three Martinsburg, West Virginia, residents entered pleas of guilty in United States District Court in Martinsburg before Magistrate Judge David J. Joel.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that:

ELMER BURKES a/k/a “SKIP”, age 58, entered a plea of guilty on February 9, 2012, to one count of distribution of heroin on May 6, 2011, in Martinsburg. BURKES, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

SHANNON JAMES BARNES a/k/a “SHAQ”, age 39, entered a plea of guilty on February 10, 2012, to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin on May 30, 2009, in Martinsburg. BARNEY, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

JAIME RENEE KOONTZ, age 25, entered a plea of guilty on February 10, 2012, to one count of distribution of heroin on March 21, 2009, in Martinsburg. KOONTZ, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin K. Reisenweber and were investigated by the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Martinsburg Police Department, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.