CLARKSBURG – Ann Marie Stankus, of Buckhannon has admitted to distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Stankus, 24, pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Stankus admitted to working with another person to distribute methamphetamine in December 2017 in Upshur County.

Stankus faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1 million. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. The U.S. Marshal Service assisted in the arrests.

The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.

In other, unrelated court news, Cameron Dixon, of Buckhannon, has admitted to a firearms charge, Powell also announced.

Dixon, 26, pled guilty to one count of possession of a stolen firearm. Dixon admitted to having a stolen .45 caliber pistol in September 2017 in Harrison County.

Dixon faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.

Aloi presided over the case.