Matthew David Viands, a 32-year-old resident of Summit Point, West Virginia, has admitted his involvement in a drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing fentanyl and other illicit substances in the Eastern Panhandle. According to court documents, Viands served as a distributor for the organization and failed to appear following his pretrial release.
Viands faces potential sentences of up to 20 years for the drug charge and up to 10 years for failing to appear. The final sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Out of 82 defendants linked to this case, 80 have been convicted, with 59 already sentenced. Charles Delroy Singletary, aged 44 from Baltimore, Maryland, remains at large.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane are leading the prosecution on behalf of the government under the supervision of U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Pittsburgh and Baltimore Field Divisions, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Service among others.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America which aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime. The operation consolidates efforts from various initiatives like the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).