William J. Ihlenfeld, II U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia
Two men have been sentenced for their involvement in a drug trafficking organization operating in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Dorian Scott Burks, 29, from Jeannette, Pennsylvania, received a sentence of 262 months in federal prison. John William Malcolm, 57, from Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 300 months.
Court documents reveal that Burks and Malcolm collaborated with others to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base across Berkeley, Morgan, and Hampshire Counties. Burks traveled from Pittsburgh to various locations in West Virginia to deliver large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine to conspirators like Malcolm for resale. During a traffic stop, officers discovered 333 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in Malcolm's vehicle.
U.S. District Court Judge Gina M. Groh highlighted Burks' role as a significant dealer due to the substantial amounts of high-purity crystal methamphetamine involved. Evidence presented at the hearing showed that Burks supplied over 32 pounds of crystal methamphetamine between January and July 2023.
The court considered Burks' possession of firearms and his maintenance of a property for drug distribution during sentencing. Malcolm's criminal history includes grand larceny, assault, drug trafficking, and firearms violations.
Both men will serve five years of supervised release following their prison terms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The investigation was conducted by the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force under the HIDTA-funded initiative as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.
