WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned indictments charging two men from Wheeling Island with drug and gun charges, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Clarence William Bertram, 24, and Justin Thomas Mann, 28, both of Wheeling Island are now facing criminal charges in federal court.
Bertram has been charged with one count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises,” three counts of “Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1,000 feet of a Protected Location,” and one count of “Felon in Possession of Firearm.” He faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine up to $500,000 for the maintaining a drug-involved premises count; up to 60 years in prison and a fine up to $2,000,000 for each of the distribution counts; and up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearm charge.
Mann, has been charged with three counts of “Distribution of Heroin” that allegedly occurred in February 2016. He faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine up to $1,000,000 for each count.
Both Bertram and Mann are alleged to have engaged in drug trafficking on Wheeling Island in 2016.
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 defendants.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard is handling the cases on behalf of the government. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, also of the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, is assisting with the Mann case. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.