Grant County Man & Randolph County Man Plead Guilty Drug Trafficking

Thursday, November 21, 2024, 5:15 P.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

ELKINS, W.VA.- On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, James Jerome Curtis, 41, of Petersburg, West Virginia, and Burlin Junior Howell, 59, of Elkins, West Virginia, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi to Distribution of Methamphetamine.

     After the defendants entered their guilty pleas on Wednesday, Judge Aloi accepted the pleas and scheduled sentencing for a date to be determined by the District Court. When sentenced, Curtis and Howell each face up to 20 years in federal prison. The actual term of imprisonment will be determined by a district court judge based on the seriousness of the offense and Curtis’ and Howell’s prior criminal history.

     According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and documents filed with the court, Curtis was selling and distributing quantities of methamphetamine throughout Grant County, West Virginia. Howell was selling and distributing amounts of methamphetamine throughout Randolph County, West Virginia.