Jefferson County Man Pleads Guilty To Role In Eastern Panhandle Drug Trafficking
Thursday, May 15, 2025, 7:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
MARTINSBURG, W.VA.- A 32-year-old Summit Point, West Virginia, man will be facing up to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty on Wednesday to distributing illicit narcotics in an Eastern Panhandle drug trafficking organization and violating the terms and conditions of his pretrial release.
On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Matthew David Viands, 32, of Summit Point, West Virginia, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble to Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Fentanyl; and Failure to Appear.
According To The U.S. Attorney’s Office
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard, during his plea allocution yesterday, Viands admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl and numerous other illicit narcotics in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and failing to appear for federal court proceedings.
Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Trumble accepted the plea and deferred sentencing for a date and time to be scheduled by the District Court. At that time, Viands faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the narcotics offense and up to an additional 10 years in federal prison on the failure to appear offense. When sentenced, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offenses and Viands’ prior criminal history.
According to documents filed with the District Court, during an investigation, Viands was identified as a distributor of fentanyl for an interstate drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of illicit narcotics throughout the Northern District of West Virginia. Viandas was initially charged along with 81 other defendants in a federal indictment with drug trafficking crimes. Of the 82 defendants, 80 have been convicted. Fifty-nine have been sentenced, and a Baltimore, Maryland, man remains a fugitive from justice.
