U.S. Attorney says dozens of defendants sentenced during government shutdown

United States Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced that his office facilitated more than 70 sentences during the 43-day government shutdown, including several defendants from Buckhannon, Clarksburg and Fairmont.

News Release
November 20, 2025

United States Attorney Matthew L. Harvey is applauding the work of his office during the government shutdown in the Northern District of West Virginia.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners continued the important work of Operation Take Back America, removing drug dealers, firearms offenders and those who commit crimes against children from our communities,” Harvey said.

During the 43-day lapse in government appropriations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office facilitated more than 70 sentences, secured dozens of guilty pleas, indicted 17 matters and successfully litigated a trial.

Notable sentences involving drug trafficking include:

Desmond Davis, 35, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison.
Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, 53, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced to 280 months.
Malik Summers, 51, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 240 months.
Odell Epps, 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 130 months in prison.
Frank Brown, 36, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 120 months in prison.
Gary Duane Cool, 41, of Monterville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 188 months.
Emmanuel Gibson, 34, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was sentenced to 151 months in prison.
Theresa Lipkey, 44, of Petersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison.
Corey Coffman Kneeland, 35, of Wardensville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 121 months.
Jennifer Ann Howell, 46, of Moorefield, West Virginia, was sentenced to 90 months.
Matthew David Viands, 33, of Summit Point, West Virginia, was sentenced to 78 months.
Mauricio Alvarado-Flores, 39, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 71 months in prison.
Alexis Alvarado, 38, of Ranson, West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months.
Rahim Duncan, 31, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison.
Crystal Lynn Blakenship, 40, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was sentenced to 97 months.
Randy Jones, 42, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 136 months in prison.
Kimberly Goins, 44, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 78 months.
Rebecca Keiper, 38, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 78 months in prison.

Prison sentences were secured for those violating firearms laws, to include:

Bryan Davis, 39, of Williamsport, Maryland, was sentenced to 188 months in prison.
Alexander Dignazio, 23, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison.
Garrett Deberry, 28, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced to 160 months in prison.

The office also secured sentences for those who violated child pornography laws:

Oliver Matheny, 51, of Maidsville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 300 months in prison.
David Cicalese, 44, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was sentenced to 120 months.
Joshua Michael Humphrey, 43, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was sentenced to 88 months in prison.
Elliot Stache, 37, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison.

The sentences were presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh, U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh and U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey.

The cases were a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.