MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Kelvin Johnson, of Baltimore, Maryland and Sykebia Stewart, of Dundalk, Maryland were found guilty today by a federal jury on heroin distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
After four hours of deliberation, a jury found Johnson, age 25, and Stewart, age 25, guilty on all counts. Johnson was found guilty of one count of “Distribution of Heroin," and one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Heroin Resulting in Death," and Stewart is guilty of one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Heroin Resulting in Death." Johnson and Stewart distributed heroin in May 2016 in Berkeley County, resulting in death.
“I want to thank the jury for their service. This case once again tells the tragic story involving heroin and death. The story is told all too often. The prosecution team worked very hard, the jury did its duty, and the court will ultimately sentence these defendants. While neither the verdict nor sentence will bring the victims back, justice will be served. We will continue to aggressively prosecute all those who engage in deadly criminal conduct in our district," said Powell.
Johnson faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the “Distribution of Heroin" conviction. Johnson and Stewart each face incarceration of not less than twenty years or more than life, and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Heroin Resulting in Death" conviction. 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. Attorneys Anna Z. Krasinski and Traci M. Cook prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crime Task Force investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
