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Grant County Residents Sentenced for Drug Distribution

Melanie Lyn Outen, Ted Alexander Voss, and Michael Dean Smith, all of Petersburg, West Virginia, were sentenced today for their roles in a fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine distribution operation, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Outen, age 47, was sentenced to 125 months incarceration. She pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl in July 2019. Outen admitted to distributing more than 64 grams of fentanyl and more than 69 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine from January to June 2019 in Grant County and elsewhere.

Voss, age 30, was sentenced to 130 months incarceration. He pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl in July 2019. Voss, age 29, admitted to distributing more than 64 grams of fentanyl and more than 69 grams of 100% percent pure methamphetamine from January to June 2019 in Grant County and elsewhere.

Smith, age 50, was sentenced today to 60 months incarceration. He pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in July 2019. Smith admitted to distributing more than 69 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine in May 2019 in Berkeley County.

These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge/Special Operations Division Project Clean Sweep.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Helman prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, West Virginia State Police, and the Charles Town Police Department investigated.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.