Two Assistant United States Attorneys from the Northern District of West Virginia were honored by the Washington-Baltimore HIDTA for their efforts in dismantling a tri-state drug trafficking ring. Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane received the Outstanding Community Impact Investigation award during a ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland.
The investigation, recognized for its impact, disrupted a violent criminal group involved in distributing fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine across Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. As a result of the operation, 82 individuals were indicted, and authorities seized nine kilograms of fentanyl/heroin, significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, along with $250,000 in cash and other assets.
Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard expressed gratitude, stating, “I express my heartfelt thanks to HIDTA for honoring these Assistant United States Attorneys and members of the task force who work tirelessly to remove fentanyl and these other agents of death from our community.” He further praised the group for their dedication to eliminating dangerous substances and criminal organizations from the country.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, part of a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the investigation. The task force comprises members from various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, West Virginia State Police, and several local police and sheriff’s departments.
HIDTA supports efforts to mitigate drug trafficking by enhancing interagency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and providing specialized resources and training to law enforcement and related initiatives.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which aims to dismantle major drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and criminal organizations impacting the United States. OCDETF employs a multi-agency strategy that capitalizes on federal, state, and local resources.
